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THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

PRESENTED  BY 

PROF.  CHARLES  A.  KOFOID  AND 
MRS.  PRUDENCE  W.  KOFOID 


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V. 


Upon  the  Surrey  side  of  Waterloo  Bridge,  London,  may  bo  daily  seen  a  cage,  about  five  feet  square,  contain- 
ing the  Quadrupeds  and  Birds  which  are  represented  in  the  above  engraving.  The  keeper  of  this  collection,  John  Austin, 
states  that  he  has  employed  seventeen  years  in  the  business  of  training  creatures  of  opposite  natures  to  live  together  in 
content  and  affection.  And  those  years  have  not  been  unprofitably  employed.  It  is  not  too  much  to  believe  that  many  a 
person  who.  has  given  his  half  penny  to  look  upon  this  show,  may  have  had  his  mind  awakened  to  the  extraordinary  effects 
of  habit  and  gentle  discipline,  when  he  has  thus  seen  the  cat,  the  rat,  the  mouse,  the  hawk,  the  rabbit,  the  guinea-pig,  the 
owl,  the  p  geon,  the  starling,  the  sparrow,  the  rook,  and  the  fox, each  enjoying,  as  far  as  can  be  enjoyed  in  confinement,  its 
respective  mode  of  life,  in  the  company  of  others — the  weak  vvithoutfear,  and  the  strong  without  desire  to  injure.  It  is  im- 
possible to  imagine  any  prettier  exhibition  of  ki.idness  than  is  here  shown  ;  the  rabbit  and  the  pigeon  playfully  contending 
for  a  lock  of  hair  to  make  up  their  nests ;  the  sparrow  sometimes  perched  on  the  head  of  the  cat,  and  sometimes  on  that 
of  the  owl;  and  the  mice  playing  about  with  perfect  indifference  to  the  presence  of  the  cat,  hawk,  or  owl. — See  Library 
of  Entertaining  Knowledge. 


NATURAL  HISTORY 


IRDS; 


<£ugratnncj|0, 

n\    A   M'.W  PLAN, 

!•  XIIIBITING   THEIR    COMPARATIVE   SIZE; 

ADAPTED  TO  THE  CAPACITIES  OF  YOUTH; 


WITH 


ILLUSTRATING   THEIR   HABITS -AND   CHARACTERS;    TOGETHER    WITH 

REFLECTIONS,  MORAL  AND  RELIGIOUS, 


DESIGNED    FOR 


SABBATH  SCHOOL  LIBRARIES,  FAMILIES,  AND  COMMON  SCHOOLS. 


BY   J.   L.    COMSTOCK.  M.  D., 

AUTHOR    or   "HATURAL    PHILOtOPHT,"   "  CHIMISTRT,"   "  BOTAHY,"   "  GEOI/XJY,"   "  MINE* AUXJY,"    "  PH YflOIXKiT ,"    ETC. 


NEW   Y  O  R  K  ; 

1MBLISIIED   BY  PRATT,   WOODFORD   <k    CO. 

1848. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1847,  by 

3.  &.  ftomstotk, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  Connecticut. 


PRES9    OF 

CASE,  -TIFFANY  &  CO., 
HARTFORD. 


B 
v 


PREFACE. 


THIS  is  (lie  first  volume  of  a  series  of  l>ook>  <>n  Natural  History,  undertaken  by 
tin-  author,  with  the  design  of  introducing  into  Common  Schools,  Sabbath  School 
Libraries  ami  Families,  interesting  and  instructive  truths,  instead  of  those  fictitious 
stories  \\hich  are  now  so  common  in  the  hands  of  children. 

lie  is  -ratified  to  learn  that  the  plan  of  graduating  the  pictures,  so  as  to  make 
them  show  the  comparative  dimensions  of  the  animals,  is  considered  by  the  public,  as 
not  only  new,  but  highly  useful.  Great  care  has  been  taken  to  render  the  pictures 
accurate  in  this  respect,  and  also  to  make  them  correct  representations  of  the  living 
birds.  In  doim;  this,  considerable  difficulty  was  experienced,  for  in  some  instances, 
no  correct  drawing  of  the  birds  could  be  found,  and  therefore  the  artist  was  under  the 
necessity  of  executing  original  drawings  from  nature. 

HARTFORD,  Dec.  1847. 


A  volume  of  the  size  and  price  of  this,  on  the  Quudrapcds,  by  Dr.  C'omstock,    13  now  in 
press  by  the  same  publishers.     The  two  may  be  had  separately,  or  bound  together. 

.  .>RK,   Jan.    1M-. 


IEDS    IN    GENERAL. 


TIIKHI  \s  no  class  of  animals,  a  knowledge  of  wh- 
habits  and  manm  TV  is  so  much  calculated  to  make  11- 
admire  the  wi.-dom.  the  -oodm •---,  and  the  design  of  the 
[or,  as  the  Unds.  The  form-  ot 'their  bodies,  and  the 
strucime  of  then-  hones,  quills  and  feathers,  uie  so  admi- 
rably adapted  to  theii  modes  of  life,  and  so  completely 
answer  the  purposes  for  which  they  were  made,  that 
they  can  hardh  !»•  examined  without  a  reference  to  Cre- 
ative wisdom  and  intelligent  design. 


LAND    BIRDS. 

The  Land  Birds  may  again  be  separated  into  two 
orders  or  division*,  namely.  Granivorous  Birds,  and  Car- 
nivorous Birds.  The  Water  Birds  may  also  be  separated 
ini<>  two  orders,  to  wit,  ihe  Waders  and  the  Swimmer*. 

Tin-Omnivorous  Birds  live  on  grain,  seeds  and  insects. 
Tln-ir  food  is  taken  into  the  stomach  whole,  where  it  is 
softenc-d  by  warmth  and  moisture.  It  then  passes  to  (he 
gizzard,  where  il  is  ground  to  powder,  and  thus  filled  to 


Tin-   bodies  of  birds  are  clothed  with  feathers,  one  of      |1(im.ivh  tl|(>  animai.     T|,e  power  of  the   gizzard  is  so 


the  lightest  of  all  substances,  and  these  are  so  arranged 
as  to  lie  over  each  other,  like  the  shingles  of  a  house,  so 
that  they  are  aioi.iph-te  protection  against  the  rain  and 
the  cold. 

That  they  may  irlide  easily  through  the  nir,  their 
heads  are  small,  their  breasts  smooth  and  gradually 
swelling,  their  wings  flat,  und  turned  backwards,  and 
their  logs  so  placed,  as  to  make  little  resistance. 

Their  bones  and  quills  are  round  and  hollow;  their 
lungs  are  large,  and  in  some  kinds,  the  air  passes  from 
them  into  the  hours  of  the  legs  and  wings  ;  thus  making 
every  p:\rt  of  the  animal  as  light  as  possible,  consistent 
with  .sufficient  strength. 

That  the  shape  of  each  tribe  or  family  of  birds  is 
peculiarly  fitted  to  the  modes  of  life  which  they  lead, 
will  be  obvious  when  we  become  acquainted  with  their 
natural  history. 

The  mandibles  of  birds  are  the  two  halves  of  their 
bOls. 

Birds  may  be  divided  into  two  great  classes,  or  kinds; 
namely,  LAND  BIRDS  and  WATER  BIRDS. 


With  what  are  the  bodies  of  birds  covered  .' 
How  is  this  covering  nrrar. 
What  is  the  use  of  this  covering  ? 
What  is  said  of  the  bones  and  quills  of  birds ! 

Are  the  shape*  of  birds  peculiarly  fitted  to  their  different  modes  of 
life  > 

Into  how  many  great  classes,  or  kinds,  are  birds  divided  > 

2 


great,  that  the  hardest  seeds  are  crushed  and  reduced  to 
powder  liy  its  action.  To  assist  in  the  grinding,  these 
birds  swallow  a  few  little  stones,  and  it  appears  that 
these  stones  are  so  necessary,  that  chickens  or  other  birds, 
when  confined  and  fed  ever  so  well,  grow  poor  without 
tin  in.  Hence  those  who  have  the  care  of  chickens, 
either  let  them  out  once  in  a  week  or  two,  or  feed  them 
with  gravel  in  their  coops.  Granivorous  birds  have  short 
bills,  which  are  straight,  or  a  little  hooked  towards  the 
end.  They  have  small  nails  on  their  toes;  the  toes 
being  divided  to  (heir  roots,  are  either  fitted  for  scratch- 
ing in  the  dirt,  or  grasping  the  limbs  of  trees,  or  for 
both. 

These  birds  are  mild  and  gentle  in  their  dispositions 
and  habits.  They  spend  their  live*  in  seekini:  U,.  i 
food,  rearing  their  young,  and  avoiding  rapacious  birdrf 
and  the  snares  of  man.  To  this  order  belong  the  Hen, 
Partridge,  Canary  bird,  Sparrow,  and  many  others. 

The  Carnivorous,  or  rapacious  birds,  live  on  animal 
food,  and  instead  of  being  mild  and  innocent  in  their  dis- 


How  sre  the  land  birds  divided  • 

On  what  do  (Ii.inivuroiiM  bin!- 

How  do  these  birds  grind  their  food  ? 

\Vli.ii  k,.,.l  .  :  billl  li.n.-  these  birds  ? 

Are  these  birds  milil,  or  ferocious.' 

Mention  some  uf  (In-  birds  n  hich  belong  to  this  order 

On  what  do  Carnivorous  birds  live  ? 

Are  they  mild,  or  warlike  in  their  habits) 


BIRDS    IN    GENERAL. 


positions,  they  are  ferocious  and  warlike  in  their  man- 
ners and  habits.  They  are  not  formed  to  live  on  corn, 
and  seeds,  since  they  are  without  gizzards  for  grinding 
them.  They  have  strong  claws  for  seizing  and  holding 
their  prey,  and  sharp,  hooked  bills,  for  tearing  it  in 
pieces.  These  birds  live  by  war  and  plunder,  and  prey 
upon  all  such  animals  as  they  can  master.  In  their 
manners,  they  are  fierce  and  solitary,  never  associating 
together  in  flocks,  like  Granivorous  birds.  They  have 
uncommon  length  and  power  of  wing,  by  which  means 
they  are  able  to  overtake  and  grasp  other  birds  in  the 
air.  To  this  order  belong  the  Eagles,  Falcons,  Vultures, 
and  many  others. 

WATER  BIRDS. 

The  Water  Birds  are  divided,  as  we  have  already  seen, 
into  Waders  and  Swimmers. 

The  Waders  have  long  legs,  long  necks,  and  some  of 
them  long  bills.  Most  of  them  have  their  toes  divided, 
like  the  Land  Birds,  but  some  of  them  are  web-footed  as 
far  as  the  second  joint. 

These  birds  are  admirably  fitted  in  their  forms  for  the 
mode  of  life  they  lead.  Their  long  legs  enable  them  to 
wade  about  in  the  water  in  search  of  their  food,  while 
their  long  necks  make  it  convenient  for  them  to  seize 
their  prey  while  it  is  swimming,  or  to  search  for  it  at  the 
bottom.  Some  of  them  have  long,  blunt  bills,  with  which 
they  probe  the  mud  and  sand,  and  from  thence  draw  out 
their  food.  Others  have  sharp  bills,  with  which  they 
strike  their  prey  as  with  a  spear.  Those  which  have 
their  feet  partly  webbed,  can  swim  when  necessity  re- 
quires, but  most  of  this  order  do  not  venture  into  deep 
water.  To  this  tribe  belong  the  Cranes,  Bitterns,  Cur- 
lews and  Snipes. 

The  Swimmers  have,  in  general,  short  legs,  webbed 
feet,  necks  of  moderate  length,  and  broad,  flat  bills. 
Most  of  them  have  their  feet  placed  far  back,  by  means 
of  which  they  are  enabled  to  paddle  themselves  through 
the  water  with  great  swiftness. 

These   birds  are  not  only  covered  with  feathers,  like 


How  are  their  bills  and  claws  formed  ? 

Do  these  birds  associate  in  flocks  ? 

What  birds  belong  to  this  order  ? 

How  are  the  Water  Birds  divided  ? 

How  are  the  Waders  shaped  ? 

Are  they  web-footed  .' 

Where  do  the  Waders  live  1 

What  birds  belong  to  this  order  • 

How  do  some  of  them  obtain  their  food  ? 

What  birds  belong  to  the  Waders  ? 

What  kind  of  legs  and  feet  have  the  Swimmers  ? 

With  what  are  they  covered,  besides  feathers? 


the  rest  of  the  race,  but  they  have  an  additional  covering 
of  down  next  the  skin,  which  completely  protects  them 
from  the  cold  as  well  as  the  water. 

The  Swimmers  live  almost  entirely  in  the  water,  some 
of  them  at  great  distances  from  the  land,  but  most  of 
them  are  found  in  bays,  and  about  the  mouths  of  rivers, 
near  the  shore. 

Their  food  consists  chiefly  of  roots,  sea-grass,  and  small 
shell-fish.  Many  of  these  birds  obtain  their  food  by 
diving  to  the  bottom  after  it,  while  others  pick  up  theirs 
along  the  shores.  To  this  order  belong  the  Ducks,  Geese, 
Penguins,  and  a  great  variety  of  others. 

From  the  above  descriptions,  the  young  student  in 
Natural  History  can  readily  distinguish  the  different 
classes  and  orders  of  Birds  from  each  other. 

If  he  is  presented  with  a  bird,  without  knowing  whether 
it  belongs  to  the  land  or  the  water,  he  must  examine  the 
bill,  neck,  feet  and  legs.  If  the  bill  is  of  moderate 
length,  the  neck  and  legs  short,  and  the  toes  divided  to 
their  roots,  he  may  be  certain  that  it  is  a  Land  Bird. 

If  he  wishes  to  know  whether  his  bird  feeds  on  flesh 
or  grain,  this  is  determined  by  another  examination.  If 
the  bill  is  hooked,  with  a  sharp  point,  the  upper  mandi- 
ble curving  over  the  lower  one,  and  the  feet  aie  furnish- 
ed with  sharp  claws,  it  is  a  Carnivorous  bird,  and  lives 
by  the  destruction  of  other  animals. 

If  the  bill  is  of  moderate  length,  and  nearly  straight, 
and  the  feet  are  without  sharp  claws,  it  is  a  bird  that 
feeds  on  grain  and  insects. 

Again,  suppose  the  student  is  presented  with  a  bird 
whose  legs  and  neck  are  of  uncommon  length,  or  which 
is  web-footed,  he  may  be  sure  that  it  is  a  Water  Bird. 

If  the  legs  and  neck  are  very  long,  the  bill  sharp,  and 
the  toes  divided,  it  is  a  Wader.  But  if  the  legs  are  short, 
the  neck  of  moderate  length,  the  bill  flat  and  blunt,  and 
the  toes  are  connected  by  a  membrane,  it  is  a  Swimmer. 

These  general  descriptions,  although  they  will  apply 
to  the  Classes  and  Divisions  at  large,  do  not  hold  true, 
in  every  individual  case.  Thus  the  Crow  and  the  Jay, 
though  their  bills  are  not  hooked,  sometimes  destroy 
small  animals  and  eat  their  flesh  ;  and  the  Daiter  and 
Rail,  both  swim  in  the  water,  though  the  first  has  a 
long  neck,  and  long  sharp  bill,  and  the  second  has  its 
toes  divided  to  their  roots. 


Where  do  these  birds  live  ? 

How  do  many  of  them  obtain  their  food  .' 

What  Birds  belong  to  this  Order  ? 

What  kind  of  bills,  necks  and  legs,  have  the  Land  Birds? 

How  can  you  tell  whether  a  bird  lives  on  grain,  or  flesh  ? 

What  is  the  difference  between  the  Waders  and  the  Swimmers  ? 

Do  these  distinctions  hold  true  in  all  cases? 

Wiiat  birds  are  mentioned  as  exceptions  ? 


' 


HI  R  I)  S    IN    GENERAL. 


Tlir-i1,  and  nlliiT  exceptions,  do  not,  howe\n,  allcct 
the  great  distinctions  which  naiine.  lias  mail.  .  and  mi 
which  llic.-i-  divisions  air  founded. 

In  neatly  all  cases  wheie  animals  pass  from  one  Class 
or  kind  into  another,  we  fiiul  that  it  is  through  .- in- 
dividuals, which  partake  more  or  less  of  tin-  nature'  of 
each  Class.  Th us.  llio  divi-inn  between  land  annuals 
and  li-!i.  is  so  indistinct,  lliat  it  is  difficult  to  say,  lo  which 
kind  sonic  individuals  bc]<>n_'. 

Tht1  sann-  ob.-ervaiioii  m-iv  In-  made  in  respect  to  tin1 
biids.  There  is,  fur  instance,  iuiahiu|)l  division  between 
tin-  Land  and  Water  liiids,  the  Waders  forming  a  kind 
of  link  l>y  which  these  two  kinds  arc  connected.  Among 
tin-  \\ad.-i-  there  arc  -nine  which  arc  tolerably  well  fit- 
ted fin  the  land  or  tin:  water,  lull  are  not  perfectly  well 
adapted  fur  either.  Such  arc  (lie  Flamingo,  the  Heron, 
and  the  IVIirun. 

The-  >,une  gradual  •  from  one  kind  to  another, 

is  obseivrd  among  the  Land  liirds.  The  Crow,  the  Jay 
and  several  I'theis,  eat  both  seeds  and  tlesh,  thus  being 
intermediate  In  tween  the  (iianivorons  and  Rapacious 
birds. 

INsr.NiT  (IK  l;n; 

There  is  haidly  a  more  striking  proof  of  the   wisdom 
and  benevolence  of  the  ( 'reator,  than  is  exhibited  by  that  ; 
terious  (jiialiiy  which  is  called  instinct,  and  which  is 
•  I  in  a  icmatkahlc  decree  by  the  birds. 

The  nesta  of  some  birds  are  built  with  such  exqui- 
skill.  ce  to  set  all  the  art  of  man  at  defiance,  and 

it  is  still  more  wonderful,  that  evei\  bird  of  the  same 
species,  should  build  its  nest  in  the  game  form,  and  gen- 
erally of  the  same  materials.  The  nests  of  the  Robin 
are  every  where  formed  so  exactly  alike,  that  no  differ- 
ence can  be  seen  between  them.  The  same  remaik 
may  be  made  in  respect  to  the  nests  of  the  Wren,  the  ' 
Quail,  and  indeed  of  most  of  the  birds  with  which  we 
an-  acquainted.  It  makes  no  difference  if  the  bird  has 
been  brought  from  a  distant  country,  or  has  never  asso- 
ciated with  any  of  its  own  kind,  its  nest  will  still  be  like 
those  of  its  ow  n  species,  almost  to  the  laying  of  a  straw. 
The  situations  will  aNo  be  similar  :  thus  the  Robin  builds 
on  a  tree,  the  Quail  on  the  ground,  and  the  Woodpecker 
in  a  hole. 

The  Great  Author  of  nature  has  also  endowed  the 
fowls  of  the  air  with  surprising  sagacity  in  the  means  of 
escaping  from  each  other,  and  from  man.  Were  this  not 

I>  the  division  between  land  and  water  animals  very  distinct  • 

What  unlor  of  Birds  an?  lilted  in  a  degree  both  for  the  land  and  water  1 

What  Birds  eat  both  seeds  and  flesh  .' 

What  docs  the  instinct  of  Bird*  prove  .' 

What  19  said  of  the  form  in  which  birds  build  their  nests? 

Do  all  birds  of  the  same  kind  make  their  nests  alike? 

Where  do  Rohius,  Quails,  and  Woodpeckers  build  their  nests? 


the  case,  it  is  probable  that  the  weaker  tribes  would 
soon  become  lew  in  number,  being  destroyed  by  the 
stroiiL 

The  Hen  appears  to  know  by  instinct,  (he  enemy  of 
her  race,  though  far  distant  in  (he  an,  and  will  warn  her 
chickens  to  escape  from  the  Hawk,  though  flic  had 
ue\cr  seen  him  before.  The  Canary  bird,  it  is  said, 
will  tremble,  and  turn  pale  at  the  sight  of  a  Hawk,  while 
the  sight  of  a  Dove  will  not  disturb  her.  Fear  and  co^>- 
lidetice,  do  not,  in  this  case,  arise  from  experience,  since 
the  little  bird,  having  always  been  confined  in  its  cage, 
could  have  no  knowledge  of  the  ferocity  of  the  one,  nor 
the  mildness  of  the  other.  The  Quail  and  Piittridge 
will  pretend  to  be  lame  and  wing  broken,  to  attract  at- 
tention, while  (heir  young  are  escaping;  and  the  Night 
Hawk  will  seek  a  place  on  the  ground,  the  color  of 
which  is  so  near  its  own,  as  not  easily  to  be  seen. 

These  aie  a  few  among  the  instances  where  the  God 
of  Nature  has  taught  the  fowls  of  the  air  to  shield  them- 
selves from  hatm,  by  that  instinctive  power,  which  man, 
with  all  his  wisdom,  can  neither  imitate  nor  compre- 
hend. 

MIGRATION  OK  HIRDS. 

Migration  signifies  the  aiinnul  passage  of  Birds,  from 
one  country  to  another.  It  is  well  known  (hat  during 
the  winter,  in  this  country,  few  birds  are  seen.  The 
Swallow,  the  Martin,  the  Robin,  and  most  other  birds 
leave  us  on  the  approach  of  cold  weather,  and  retire  to 
a  warmer  climate. 

Each  kind  of  bird  has  a  particular  time  of  the  year, 
when  they  commence  their  flight,  and  it  is  astonishing 
with  what  exactness  they  observe  this  period.  During 
the  Autumn,  we  may  one  week  see  thousands  of  Swal- 
lows, or  Martins  in  the  air,  and  the  next  week  not  one 
of  these  birds  is  to  be  found.  In  the  spring,  they  observe 
the  lime  of  ihcir  coming  with  nearly  equal  exactness, 
and  hence  must  leave  the  country  where  they  have 
spetil  the  winter  at  the  same  period  every  year. 

Most  species  of  birds  assemble  together,  before  tin  y 
begin  their  flight,  and  seetn  to  hold  a  consultation  on  the 
subject  of  their  long  journey.  The  Swallows,  Black- 
bird.", Storks,  Wild  Geese  and  many  other  species,  per- 
form their  voyages  in  large  florks. 

Some  birds  migrate  only  from  one  part  of  the  same 
country  to  another,  while  others  take  immense  journeys, 


What  is  said  of  the  instinct  of  the  Hen  ? 

What  is  aaid  of  the  Canary  bird  1 

What  is  said  of  the  Quail  and  Partridge  ? 

What  a  said  of  the  Night  Hawk  ? 

What  is  meant  by  the  Migration  of  Birds  I 

What  is  said  about  the  time  of  their  miirrations  ? 

Do  most  Birds  assemble  in  flocks,  before  they  begin  their  journeys  ? 


s 


BIRDS    IN    GENERAL. 


and  fly  from  one  continent,  or  quarter  of  the  globe,  to 
another. 

The  Wild  Goose,  the  Crane,  and  several  other  species, 
are  supposed  to  rear  their  young  farther  to  the  north 
than  any  human  being  has  yet  penetrated,  thus  making 
journeys  twice  every  year  of  three  or  four  thousand 
miles. 

Nothing  in  Natural  History  is  more  wonderful,  or 
more  unaccountable,  than  the  migration  of  birds.  It  is 
a  subject  on  which  the  reasoning,  and  (he  knowledge  of 
man,  is  of  little  use.  We  can  only  say,  that  they  leave 
one  country  and  fly  to  another,  apparently  either  for  the 
purpose  of  enjoying  a  warmer  climate,  of  obtaining  food, 
or  with  the  intention  of  rearing  their  young.  But  how 
they  should  know  which  way  to  fly, — when  to  begin 
their  journey, — or  by  what  means  they  are  able  to  keep 
their  course  over  vast  oceans  and  continents,  is  entirely 
beyond  our  comprehension. 

On  this  subject  man  is  obliged  to  own  his  ignorance, 
and  in  silence  attribute  directly  to  the  Great  Author  of 
Nature,  those  qualities  which  his  reason  cannot  com- 
prehend. " 

USEFULNESS  OF  BIRDS. 

In  addition  to  the  pleasure  we  receive  from  seeing  and 
hearing  those  birds  that  visit  our  houses  and  cultivated 
grounds,  we  derive  a  real  advantage  from  their  labors. 
The  vast  number  of  insects  which  they  destroy,  would 
often  render  the  labors  of  the  husbandman  and  gard- 
ener useless,  had  not  a  kind  Providence  thus  prevented 
their  increase. 

These  birds,  says  Mr.  Bewick,  are  the  industrious, 
regulating  little  messengers  of  Providence,  without 
whose  assistance  the  plough  and  spade  would  often  find 
their  labors  bestowed  in  vain  ;  and  weak  as  these  instru- 
ments may  appear,  without  their  aid,  instead  of  a  land 
of  overflowing  plenty,  adorned  with  flowers,  and  fruits, 
and  trees,  in  rich  luxuriance,  we  should  too  frequently 
meet  with  nothing  but  barrenness,  and  the  silence  and 

dreariness  of  a  desert. 

j 

The  number  of  insects  which  birds  destroy  is  immense,  ( 
and  altogether  beyond  common  belief.     Mr.  Bradley,  in  I 
his  Treatise  on  Husbandry  and  Gardening,  says,  that  a  I 
pair  of  Sparrows  carried  to  their  nest,  on  an  average,  < 
forty  caterpillars  every  hour  during  the  day.     This  would 
make  nearly   five   hundred   of  these  insects  in  twelve 
hours,  and  more   than  three   thousand  during  a  week. 

Where  is  it  supposed  the  Crane  and  Wild  Goose  rear  their  young .' 

For  what  purpose  do  Birds  migrate  ? 

By  what  means  are  they  able  to  keep  their  course  over  oceans  and 
continents  ? 

How  are  Birds  useful  to  the  farmer .' 

What  number  of  insects  is  it  said  a  pair  of  Sparrows  destroyed  in  a   ~> 
week  .' 


Ten  pair  would  therefore  destroy  more  than  thirty  thou- 
sand caterpillars  per  week,  a  number  perhaps  sufficient 
to  ruin  all  the  expectations  of  an  honest  gardener,  and 
reduce  his  family  to  want. 


LAND    BIRDS. 


DOMESTIC  FOWLS. 

Birds  belonging'to  this  tribe,  have  neither  hooked  bills 
for  tearing,  like  the  eagles ;  nor  sharp  ones  for  striking, 
like  thft  cranes  ;  but  they  have  short  thick  bills  for  pick- 
ing up  grain,  which  is  their  principal  food.  Some  of 
them  have  strong  nails  for  scratching  in  the  dirt,  in 
search  of  insects,  worms  and  gravel.  They  build  their 
nests  on  the  ground,  and  as  the  brood  leave  them  as 
soon  as  hatched,  little  care  is  taken  in  constructing  them. 
To  this  tribe  belong  the  Cock  and  Hen,  Peacock,  Guinea 
Hen,  and  many  others. 


COCK  AND  HEN. 

These  birds  are  so  universally  known,  that  to  describe 
them  would  be  only  a  waste  of  time. 

The  Cock  has  been  long  a  domestic  bird,  and  it  is  well 
known,  that  all  animals  when  taken  under  the  protec- 
tion of  man,  and  made  his  property,  undergo  more  or  less 
changes,  both  in  figure  and  color.  Those  animals  there- 
fore, which  have  been  longest  in  captivity,  have  suffered 
the  greatest  changes  in  these  respects. 

Of  all  the  feathered  race,  the  Cock  seems  to  have 
been  the  longest  in  captivity,  and  hence  he  differs  most 
widely  from  birds  of  the  same  kind,  which  have  con- 
tinued in  a  state  of  nature,  and  enjoyed  their  indepen- 
dence. 


COCK    AN  I>    U  r.  \ 


All  \vil«l  birds  of  the  same  kind,  wliicli  flock  together, 
ir  alike,  :HIC|  an'  marked  with  (lie  same  spots,  or 
arc  ot' the  same  color.  Thus  one  bine-jay,  or  one  robin. 
Will  give  •  OOrreel  idea  of  all  tin-  olli  roliins,  in 

the  neighborhood.  But  it  is  not  so  wuh  ihe  d,rk  ami 
Hen.  Some  me  red,  others  while,  and  others  spoiled 
with  vaiioiis  colors. 

These  bmls  differ  also  in  other  respect*.  Some  Cocks 
are  ornamented  with  large  and  tieinKifiil  tails,  while 
olheis  arc  entirely  without  this  ornament.  The  bodies 
of  SIM  -red  with  smooth  shining  plumage,  while 

others  ore  clothed  with  feather.*,  standing  in  all  direc- 
tions ;  and  >o  wide  are  these  dilti  rences,  that  one  kind 
which  comes  from  Japan,  is  covered  with  hair  instead  of 

fcalh 

-i  this  all  ;  for  there  is  as  much  difference:  in  the 
si/.e  of  them,  as  there  in  in  their  colors.  One  kind  is 
nearly  three  feet  high  ;  and  from  this  down  to  the  l',.m- 
lam  cliicken,  which  is  little  larger  than  a  pigeon,  these 
buds  are  seen  of  all  sizes. 

All  these  varieties  of  colors  nnd  sixes  appear  to  bl- 
owing entirely  to  domestication,  and  the  difference  of 
climate  and  feeding.  This  is  known  from  comparing 
the  domestic  fowls,  with  (he  original  stock  from  whence 
they  came,  which  still  exists  in  its  wild  slate  in  several 
of  the  islands  of  the  Indian  Ocean,  and  also  on  the  coast 
of  Malabar,  in  the  East  Indies. 

These  fowls  are  black  and  yellow,  the  same  parts  on 
each  being  of  the  same  color.  The  color  of  the  comb  is 
yellow  instead  of  red,  ns  among  us.  The  size  as  well 
as  the  color  of  these  wild  biids.  i-  the  samp  wherever 
..re  found.  There  is  one  peculiarity  in  them, 
winch,  so  far  as  we  know,  is  unaccountable.  Their 
bones,  when  boiled,  instead  of  being  white,  like  those  of 
our  fowls,  ate  as  black  as  eboin. 

The  Cock,  when  attacked  by  one  of  his  own  kind,  is 
one  of  the  most  courageous  nnd  unyielding  of  all  ani- 
mals ;  nnd  such  is  his  nice  sense  of  honor,  that  he  often 
commences  the  attack  himself,  because  one  of  his  fellows 
happens  to  crow  in  his  presence.  When  the  battle  has 
once  begun,  the  pride  of  both  panic-,  .-veins  to  be  uncon- 
querable, and  they  will  hold  out  to  the  last  breath,  and 
die  on  the  spot,  rather  than  yield  the  victory. 

In  these  contests,  when  one  becomes  so  exhausted 
thai  he  can  no  longer  stand,  but  lies  bleeding  on  the 
ground,  the  other  crows  over  him  in  loken  of  victory  and 
triumph,  (hus  cruelly  insulting  his  fallen  enemy.  \Vhen 
this  is  beard,  the  poor  prostrate  bird,  as  though  he  had 
resolved  to  sutler  dcaih,  rather  (ban  endure  insult,  jumps 
up,  and  if  he  can  stand,  renews  the  battle,  and  fights 
until  his  last  breath. 

But  the  Cock  often  ffonducts  himself  in  quite  a  differ- 
ent manner,  on  other  occasions;  for  when  he  meets  the 
hawk,  an  enemy  of  his  race,  and  the  destroyer  of  his 

3 


brood,  his  pride  and  courage  generally  forsake  him,  and 
he  skulks  away  into  the  fnvt  i  .  |en\  nig  In-  con- 

sorl,  (be  Hen,  (o  take  erne  of  herself  and   her  rhi.-l 
ill  the  b<  -I   in.inn.  i  .-In-  ran. 

The  conduct  of  this  gilly   brute  is  imitated  at  (he  j 
ent  day,  by  some  human   beings,  who  call   th< 
men  of  honor.     If  one  of  ihe«e  men  happen  t,.  spc 
-bar])  word  to  the  other,  lie  considers  it  as  n  i  <u 

ing  <>\er  him,  and  immediately  offers  to  do  battle  wilh 
him,  by  sending  him  what  is  railed  a  challfngt,  thn 
an  offer  to  fight  him  wilh  swords,  pistols  or  guns,  unlil 
one  or  the  other  is  killed.  This  is  called  a  duel,  and 
sonn!  lines  when  one  is  \\  minded,  bill  not  quite  killed, 
the  other  will  crow  over  him,  by  saying  thai  he  is  a  cow- 
ard, unless  he  continues  to  fight  as  long  as  he  can  hold 
his  sword  or  pistol  in  his  hand,  and  (hus  he  is  insulted, 
even  while  his  blood  is  running,  unless  he  fights  until 
he  kills,  or  is  killed  himself. 

At  the  same  lime,  these  men,  who  are  so  ready  lo  spill 
their  blood  in  defence  of  their  honor,  or  in  other  words, 
who  had  rather  die  than  suffer  what  they  call  an  insult, 
are  very  often  both  of  them  cowards.  For  let  an  enemy 
come  into  their  country  and  destroy  it  with  fire  and 
sword,  and  very  likely  these  men  would  be  the  first  to 
skulk  away  into  some  safe  place,  and  like  the  Cock,  let 
their  wives  and  children  take  care  of  themselves. 

It  is  personal  pride,  therefore,  and  not  true  courage, 
which  makes  men  fight  duels,  and  kill  one  another  for 
the  sake  of  honor.  And  he  who  does  this,  it  is  quite 
plain,  is  as  much  guilty  of  the  bloody  crime  of  murder, 
as  he  who  lies  in  wail  and  shoots  another  because  he  is 
angry  with  him. 

The  Cock  is,  however,  generally  very  attentive  to  his 
females.  He  leads  them  into  the  fields  to  feed,  hardly 
r  going  out  of  their  sight,  and  appearing  very  conse- 
quential and  happy  at  the  bead  of  his  family.  If  a  stran- 
ger of  his  own  kind  ventures  among  ihe  group  on  such 
occasions,  he  instantly,  and  without  ceremony,  attacks 
him,  and  if  possible  drives  the  intruder  olT  the  ground. 
He  then  returns  to  his  Hens,  crows  several  limes  in  token 
of  victory,  and  seems  to  expect  from  them  some  .  -p. -rial 
nolice,  as  a  reward  for  his  bravery. 

This  bird  is  a  very  early  riser,  generally  beginning  lo 
crow  at  the  dawn  of  day,  soon  after  which  he  goes  forth 
with  his  family  in  search  of  breakfast. 

The  number  of  eggs  which  some  Hens  will  lay  in  a 
year,  if  well  fed,  and  allowed  the  liberty  of  ranging  in 
the  open  air,  is  about  two  hundred.  If  left  to  herself, 
she  howcM-r  seldom  lays  more  than  twenty  eggs,  before 
she  shows  a  disposition  to  hatch  them.  Hut  if  the  eggs 
are  taken  away,  she  will  continue  to  lay  others,  in  the 
hope  of  increasing  ihe  number,  and  thus  laying  the  foun- 
dation of  a  more  numerous  family.  If  she  ia  disappointed 
in  this,  and  ihe  season  for  hatching  has  nearly  expired, 


10 


COCK    AND    HEN. 


she  will  begin  to  sit,  even  if  she  has  only  one  or  two 
eggs. 

The  nest  of  the  Hen  is  constructed  with  very  little 
care,  because  her  instinct  teaches  her  that  it  is  useless  to 
make  a  place  for  the  comfort  of  her  brood,  since  they 
leave  the  nest  and  run  about,  as  soon  as  they  are  hatched. 
She  however  takes  care  that  the  place  where  she  retires 
to  produce  her  brood,  should  be  covered  from  the  rain, 
and  as  much  as  possible  out  of  the  way  of  such  animals 
as  would  rob  her  nest. 

When  she  begins  to  sit,  she  seems  to  show  by  her  con- 
duct, that  she  is  aware  how  important  a  business  she  has 
undertaken.  On  such  occasions,  nothing  can  exceed 
her  perseverance  and  her  patience.  She  remains  on  her 
nest  whole  days  and  nights  in  succession,  without  eating 
or  drinking  ;  and  when  she  is  forced,  by  hunger,  to  leave 
her  eggs  for  a  few  minutes,  she  runs  to  the  door  of  her 
mistress,  and  by  her  clucking,  makes  known  her  wants  ; 
and  having  taken  a  few  kernels  of  corn,  hurries  back  to 
her  charge.  If,  however,  she  gets  nothing  to  eat,  she 
does  not  loiter  on  this  account,  but  goes  to  her  nest,  and 
if  ever  so  hungry,  takes  care  that  her  future  brood  does 
not  perish  by  her  eggs  growing  cold  in  her  absence. 

While  sitting,  she  turns  her  eggs  over,  and  now  and 
then  puts  the  outside  ones  into  the  middle,  so  that  each 
may  be  equally  warmed.  And  when  the  time  comes 
near  for  the  chickens  to  break  their  shells,  she  seems 
still  more  anxious,  and  often  does  not  leave  her  nest  a 
moment,  for  several  days,  and  as  many  nights. 

The  strongest  and  largest  chickens  burst  their  shells 
first,  while  the  weaker  ones  leave  theirs  last,  and  some- 
times die  in  attempting  to  escape.  When  all  that  are 
living  have  come  forth,  she  then  leads  them  into  the  open 
air,  and  begins  to  provide  food  for  them  in  the  best  man- 
ner she  is  able.  In  this  however  she  is  generally  assisted 
by  her  mistress,  who  watches  the  coming  of  the  brood 
with  interest,  and  the  moment  she  finds  them  moving, 
supplies  all  the  necessary  provision. 

The  mother  however  does  not  stand  idle  and  see  them 
eat,  but  desirous  of  gaining  their  affection  by  her  tender 
care,  takes  up  small  particles  of  the  food,  and  one  after 
the  other  calls  them  and  puts  it  into  their  mouths. 

At  this  time,  affection  for  her  young,  and  the  piide  she 
seems  to  feel  as  a  mother,  produce  a  remarkable  change 
in  her  character.  From  being  cowardly,  and  voracious, 
she  becomes  courageous,  and  a  very  small  eater.  She 
will  attack  any  animal,  whether  it  be  dog,  horse,  hawk 
or  man,  which  comes  too  near  her  brood,  and  she  will 
eat  nothing  herself  which  her  chickens  can  swallow,  un- 
less there  is  enough  for  all. 

When  marching  out  to  take  the  air,  and  find  food  for 
her  little  troop,  she  acts  as  their  guide,  and  commander; 
calls  them  when  she  finds  a  morsel  fit  for  their  food,  and 
when  she  sees  a  hawk  in  the  air,  warns  them  of  their 


danger  by  a  peculiar  note,  on  hearing  which  every  one 
seeks  a  place  of  safety,  and  hides  itself  from  the  enemy. 

At  night,  or  in  damp  weather,  she  gathers  them  under 
her  wings  to  keep  them  warm,  and  by  a  peculiar  and 
gentle  voice,  seems  to  hush  them  to  sleep. 

It  has  been  stated,  that  the  Hen  will  lay,  in  the  course 
of  the  year,  about  two  hundred  eggs,  which  is  twenty 
times  as  many  as  she  can  hatch,  and  bring  up  the 
chickens. 

Now  it  seems  to  be  the  nature  of  man,  so  far  as  lies  in 
his  power,  to  turn  every  thing  to  his  own  profit  or  advan- 
tage; and  if  chickens  could  be  hatched  and  reared  in 
some  artificial  manner,  they  would  yield  a  vastly  greater 
profit  than  the  eggs.  Hence  men  sought  out  and  in- 
vented a  way  of  hatching  chickens  without  Hens,  and 
thus  by  an  unnatural  method,  of  producing  immense 
broods  without  mothers. 

The  invention  of  hatching  chickens  by  artificial  heat, 
appears  to  have  been  made  in  Egypt,  in  which  country 
it  has  long  been  practiced,  and  is  still  carried  on  as  a 
tiade.  Men  who  follow  this  business,  go  about  seeking 
employment,  by  offering  to  take  charge  of  the  ovens  in 
which  chickens  are  hatched. 

These  ovens,  according  to  Mr.  Bingley,  are  of  differ- 
ent sizes,  but  large  enough  to  contain  from  forty  to  eighty 
thousand  eggs  each.  They  are  of  very  simple  construc- 
tion, consisting  only  of  low  arched  apartments -of  clay. 
In  these  apartments  are  two  rows  of  shelves  on  which 
the  eggs  are  laid,  care  being  taken  that  they  should  not 
touch  each  other.  Each  egg  is  slightly  moved,  five  or 
six  times  every  day.  During  the  first  eight  days,  a  con- 
siderable degree  of  heat  is  kept  up,  but  after  this  time, 
the  warmth  is  gradually  diminished,  until  at  the  period 
when  the  eggs  are  about  to  be  hatched,  the  fire  is  entirely 
put  out,  the  air  in  that  country  being  sufficiently  warm 
for  the  comfort  and  health  of  the  brood.  After  they  are 
hatched,  the  chickens  require  very  little  care  besides 
feeding,  the  heat  in  that  country  being  so  great  as  not 
to  make  it  necessary  to  brood,  or  cover  them,  even  in  the 
night. 

The  Cock  never  sleeps  so  soundly  as  not  to  be  easily 
awakened.  His  great  watchfulness  is  known  by  his 
crowing  in  the  night,  and  particularly  towards  morning, 
to- let  us  know  that  the  day  dawns,  and  that  the  sun  is 
rising  to  enlighten  the  earth. 

To  the  crowing  of  this  bird  towards  morning,  our  Sav- 
iour alludes,  when  he  exhorts  his  disciples  to  be  ever 
watchful  and  ready  for  his  coming.  "  Watch  ye,  there- 
fore, for  ye  know  not  when  the  master  of  the  house 
cometh  ;  at  even,  or  at  midnight,  or  at  the  cock  crow- 
ing, or  in  the  morning."  Mark,  13  ;  35. 

The  Cock  crows  regularly  at  dboul  midnight,  as  well 
as  in  the  morning,  and  these  periods  have  been  called 
the  first  and  second  cock  crowing.  If,  however,  refer- 


T  11  K    P  K  ACOC  K  .  II 

!  n<  i  -is  made  to  tlu-  crowing  of  this  bird  without  mention-  '                                     THE  PEACOCK. 

i In-  HIM,-,  it  ig  understood  ( anthe  moinmgci  There  are  only  four  species  ,,f  the    Peacock  known. 

I.ecailM-    llus     is     the    pen..d    when    In'   I.-  l.losl    coin-         (  )f  ,  |,,  ,„,.,  ,Wl,    :u,'.   f,1|H|,|    ,,,    ^j^  ,„    Aln,.a,    .„„)  one 

inoiily  beard.  in  China.     Tile?  kind  known  ami  il. -sii.-ai.'d  in  KM 

To  these  BuUltCliofU  OUr  S&viour  Mem  lo  have  refer-        and  Arn«. no.,,  cam l-jmally  from  Alia.       1  hr\   a, rail 

red,   when    It.-  warned    hi*  disci|)lt-  Peter,  that   In-    was  birds  of  lar-.- si/.- ami  •_  n-at  I..                 Their  food  is  corn, 

ultout  in  disown,  and   deny   Ins    MI-I.-I.      ••  And  Jesus  herbs  and  insects. 

saiili  iinio  him.  vi-rily  1  >ay  nnio  ill.-.',  that  this  day,  even  ' 

in  this  nielli,  1.1-fon-  the  cockciow  tinci;  thoil  shall  deny  '''HE  CRESTED  PEACOi  K. 

I'"'  tl»"-'  ."      Marfc,l4j80,  (TU.l.oUre«««o.P«e«k.] 

By  this  ,t  j,  understood,  that  before  ihe  n.-xt  morning,  •        ll,,w  Urge,  bird  i.  the  Cre.ted  Pe»cork  > 

oi  perbejM  between  midnight,  when  the  Cock  crows  il.,.  -,.,„.  rr,.M,.,|  p,.,,(.,,,L  j,  .,,„,„,  five  fee(  ,ong>  l|lc  tai, 

first  nine,  and    il,,.   dawn  of  day,  when  lie  crows  ugain.        |H,,^  ,| ,,.,.,    .„„,  .,  ,,.,,,-,  .„„,  ,,„.  ,„„,     Qne  foQt  an(, 

that  Peter  would  deny  that  he  knew  the  Saviour.  ;i  i|;i||-  | 

And  this   came    lo   pass   a.  cmding  lo  ihe  prediction  ;  :.e  ofihin  l>ir.i  > 

for  when  this  disciple  saw  Ins  Masier  in  ihe  hands  of  his  The  shnpeof  llus  hird  is  in  some  respects  very  bcauti 
enemies,  who  were  leading  him  away  to  crucify  him,  his  fill.     The  head  is  small,  and  crowned  with  a  crest,  con- 
fears  foi  In*  own  safety  pn-\  ailed  over  his  formi-r  attach-  sisling  of  a  few  straight  feathers  ;  the  neck  is  long  and 
meni,and  In- cruelly  and  deceitfully  d.-nii'd  that  he  ever  small,  lap.-rinir  most  gracefully  from  the  breast  upwards  ; 
knew   him.      •'  And  as  1'eler  was  i.eiu-alh,  in  (he  palace,  the  body   is   of  considerable  «i/e  ;     the  wings  short,  and 
there  conieih  one  of  the  maids  of  the  high  priest  ;  and  tin-  tail  \ery  large  and  long. 
when   she  >a\v  1'eter  warming  hims<  II.  she  looked  upon  ,        What  i»  the  color  of  the  Peacock  ? 

him,  and  said,  and  ihou  also  wast  with  Jcsns  of  Na/a-  ^  colors  are  very  splendid,  and  so   arranged,  as  to 
reth."     •'  Hut  he  denied,  saying,  I  know  not  what  thou  produce  the  mosl  striking  effect.     The  back  and  wings 
st.     And  In-  went  out  into  the  porch  ;  and  the  Cock  are  of  a  ''g"1  ash  color,  mingled  with  black  ;  the  head, 
cn-w.'1     Mark,  14;   66-68.  '   neck  and  breast  are  greenish  blue,  with  a  gloss,  which, 
After  tins,  he  was  again  accused  by  this  maid,  nnd  by  i  in  the  sun,  appears  exceedingly  brilliant;  the  eyes  are 
another  person,  of  being  one  of  the  Saviour's  disciples,  i  ««t  between  two  stripes  of  white;  the  feathers  of  the 
and  at  ea.  h  time  be  declated  that  he  did  not  know  him.  tail  are  a  changeable  mixture  of  green,  blue,  purple 
And  immediately  after  the  third  denial,  the  Cock  crew  and  gold  ;    towards  the  end,  each  one  has  a  dark  sp..i, 
the  second  time.     So  that  the  prediction,  "  Ik-fore  the  '/  surrounded  with  gold  and  green,  appearing  like  • 
Cock  crow  twice,  thou  shall  deny  me  thrice,"  was  ex-  j  The  whole  of  this  tiain  the  bird  can  spread  into  the  form 
nctly  fulfilled.  of  a  half  circle,  when  it  becomes  one  of  the  most  brill- 
Hut  as  in  othei  cai     .  !'•  tor's  deceitfulness  and  lying  !    iant  and  beautiful  objects  imaginable, 
did  not  go  unpunished,  for  bis  conscience  accused  him  of  j       The  Peacock,  though  a  native  of  Asia,  was  at  a  very 
his  ciinie  as  s, , on  as  it  was  committed,  for  he  "  remein-  early  period  carried   to   various  parts  of  the  world.     In 
ber'-d  the    words  of  Jesus."     "And    he  went  out  and  the  days  of  Solomon,  we  find  that  these  birds  were  im- 
wept  bitterly."  ported  from  the  east,  in  order  to  gratify  the  taste  of  that 
The  Hen,  it  is  well  known,  gathers  her  chickens  un-  monarch  for  the  beautiful  productions  of  nature.    Among 
der  her  wind's,  both  to  piotect  them  from  danger,  and  to  other  articles  which  his  ships  brought  him.  are  mentioned 
them   warm.     To  this  trait  of  tenderness  in  her  "gold,  silver,    ivory,  apes  nnd  Peacocks."       1  Kings, 
natural  history,  our  Saviour  alludes,  when  he  addressed  10;  22. 

the  Jews,  and  warned  them  of  the  miseries  about  to  de-  \        Among  the  Romans,  in  their  days  of  luxury  and  ex- 

d  on  iheir  city,  as  a  punishment  for  having  rejected  travagancc,  Peacocks  were  held  in   the  hi^h.-st  e-iuna- 

his  offers  of  mercy.    "  0  Jerusalem,  Jerusalem,  ihou  thai  lion  ;  and  the  person  who  first  ordered  them  lo  be  sen  >  d 

killest  the  prophets,  and   stonest  (hem  which    are  eenl  up   at   his  table,  as  an  article   of  food,  became  so  c<  !<•- 

unto  thee,  how  often   would    I    have  leathered  thy  clnl-  brat,  d  on  this  account,  (hat  Ins   name  is  known    to  this 

dren,  even  as  a  H.-n  ij'ithereth  her  chickens  under  her  day. 

wings,  and  ye  would  not."     Matthew,  -22;  :t7.  .\fter  their  first   introduction  to  the  table,  il  soon  be- 
How  beautifully  and   how  affectionately  does  this  ex-  came  fashionable  amoiii:  the  great  nu  n  at  Rome,  to  eat 
]>T.-S  the  S.aioiir's  love  towards  rebellions  men.      Even  Peacocks;    not  probably  on  account  of  tin  ir   yoo.h 
after  they  had  rejected,  and  despis.  d  him  ami  his  warn-  but  because  their  expense  was  such  as  lo  pievent  most 
ings,  still  he  was  willing  to  take  them   undi  r  his  divine  people  from  offering  so  cosily  a  dish  ;    so  that  the  man 


protection,  as  a  Hen  gathers  her  chickens  under  her 
wings,  and  to  save  them  from  everlasting  ruin. 


who   first   undertook  ih<-  business  of  fattening  them  for 
the  markets,  made  his  fortune  by  the  trade. 


12 


THE    PEACOCK. 


THE  PEACOCK. 


In  Greece,  at  one  period,  these  birds  were  so  highly 
esteemed,  that  the  price  of  a  pair  of  them  was  more  than 
a  hundred  dollars  our  money  ;  and  we  are  told  that  when 
Alexander  the  Great  was  in  India,  he  was  so  struck  with 
their  beauty,  that  he  laid  a  heavy  fine  and  punishment 
on  any  person  who  should  in  any  manner  wound,  or 
injure  them. 

At  that  time,  when  a  pair  was  carried  to  Athens,  the 
rich  went  from  all  parts  of  Greece,  for  no  other  purpose 
than  to  behold  so  great  a  curiosity ;  each  person  paying 
a  certain  sum  for  the  sight. 

In  what  manner  the  Romans  cooked  their  Peacocks, 


we  are  not  informed,  but  at  the  present  day,  after  the 
highest  seasoning,  their  flesh  is  still  black,  tough,  and 
when  compared  with  that  of  other  birds,  but  very  poor 
and  insipid  eating. 

How  long  Peacocks  were  considered  a  delicious,  as 
well  as  a  costly  article  of  diet,  does  not  appear;  but  in 
the  time  of  King  Francis  First,  of  France,  about  the  be- 
ginning of  the  sixteenth  century,  these  birds  were  still 
used  at  the  entertainments  of  the  great,  though  they 
were  not  eaten. 

At  that  time,  the  fashion  was  to  take  off  the  skin,  and 
then  having  prepared  the  flesh  with  spices  and  salt,  the 


THE    G  ROUS. 


13 


skin  was  airain  drawn  on,  so  llml  iho  bird  appeared  in 
full  plumage,  .ui.l  was  in  noway  injured  by  this  pn-p.-i- 
rntion. 

Thus  fulfil  up  fur  service,  ii  was  kept  for  many  years, 
to  be  set  on  tin-  laMf  in  full  dress,  on  great  occasions. 
At  Weddings,  and  other  hi^h  tunes,  they  filled  llie  beak 
nnd  throat  i>f  llie  bird  with  cotton  and  camphor,  which 
was  set  on  tire  fur  the  <•  nicriainnif  ni  of  the  company. 

For  the  beauty  of  its  plum  uje,  few  of  the  featheied 
"inparf  with  (he  Peacock.  But  this  poor  bird 
can  boast  of  nothing  but  outside  show.  His  voice,  which 
il  a  kind  of  scream,  is  unplea-aiil,  mid  e\en  shocking  to 
ir :  hi-i  I  eif  s  are  Mack,  and  so  homely,  that  it  is  said 
II  never  look  at  them  himself.  He  is  a  voracious 
eater,  and  devours  plants,  seeds,  corn  and  insects,  with- 
out distinction.  In  gardens,  and  planted  fields,  he  is 
such  an  intolerable  nuisance,  that  bis  owner  is  often  obli- 
ged  to  pay  money  for  the  damage  he  commits. 

The  di-LTiistmi,'  habits  and  bad  conduct  of  this  bird, 
therefore,  make  him  a  disagreeable  companion,  notwith- 
standing Ins  Leauty.  So  that  those  who  are  well  ac- 
quainted with  him,  take  little  notice  of  his  dress,  his 
character  being  a  matter  of  much  more  consequence,  to 
them  than  the  fine  appeaiance  of  his  feathers. 

Let  this  be  a  lesson  10  those  who  expect  that  personal 
beauty,  and  external  show,  rather  than  good  qualities, 
will  gain  them  permanent  respect,  and  virtuous  influ- 
ence in  the  world.  The  truth  is,  that  personal  beauty, 
like  the  Peacock's  plumage,  after  being  a  little  while 
admired,  if  not  combined  with  other  charms,  is  every 
where  soon  forgotten,  or  despised. 

Let  a  person  be  ever  so  gaudily  dressed,  and  ever  so 
handsome,  if  he  is  disgusting  in  his  manners,  and  over- 
bearing in  his  conduct,  he  will  soon  find  himself  shun- 
ned and  hated  by  everybody;  whereas  u  person  of 
amiable  and  obliL'iii::  manners,  if  neither  handsome  in 
person,  nor  dressed  in  fine  clothes,  will  always  be  be- 
loved, and  always  have  influence,  wherever  he  goes. 
Who  would  not  rather  possess  the  modest  Quaker  dress 
of  the  turtle  dove,  with  its  endeaiing  manners,  than  all 
the  beauty  of  the  Peacock,  with  his  voracious  appetite 
and  pernicious  habits. 


THE  GROUS. 

Birds  of  the  Grons  kind  have  thick  short  bills,  the 
upper  mandible  being  a  little  longer  than  the  lower 
nd  -lightly  bent  at  the  end.  Their  toes  arc  four 
in  number,  three  forward,  of  which  the  middle  one  is 
much  the  longest,  and  one  backward,  which  is  quite 
short. 

They  lly   very  swiftly,  but   their  wings  are  so  short, 


that  they  canitoi  continue  their  (light  to  any  nn-al  Jjg. 
lance.  They  skulk  in  the  Ui.od-.  and  are  .-ei-n  with  dif- 
ficulty, except  when  on  the  \\ 

To  this   tribe  belonir  the  (irons,  Partridge,  and  some 
others. 


THE  PINNATED  GROUS. 


How  large  u  the  Pinnated  Grou*  ? 

The  Pinnated  Grous  is  a  foot  and  a  half  long,  and  with 
the  wings  extended,  two  feet  and  three  inches  wide.     It 
has  a  second  pair  of  wings  on  the  neck. 
What  if  the  color  of  this  bird  ? 

Its  color  on  the  back,  is  yellowish  brown,  spotted  with 

black ;    the  throat  is  marked  with  touches  of  reddish 

brown,  black  and   white  ;    the  breast  is  marked  across 

;  with  spots  of  black  and  brown  ;  the  comb  is  of  an  ele- 

•  gant  yellow,  and  in  the  form  of  a  half  moon  ;  under  the 

:  neck-wings,  there  are  spots  of  loose,  naked  skin,  about 

the  size  and  color  of  an  orange  ;  the  tail  is  short,  and  of 

a  pale  brown. 

What  is  the  form  of  this  Grou* .' 

The  form  of  the  Pinnated  Grous,  as  well  as  its  color, 
very  much  resemble  those  of  the  Partridge. 

Where  is  thin  bird  found  ? 

This  bird  is  found  in  several  parts  of  the  United  States, 
but  is  scarce,  and  only  inhabits  particular  places. 

The  figure  of  this  bird  is  from  Wilson.  Il  is  a  male, 
;  and  represented  in  the  act  of  sit  lilting.  The  neck-wings 
are  raised  up,  so  that  the  peculiar  yellow  spot  under 
them  is  to  be  seen.  The  principal  wings  are  partly 
spread,  nnd  pushed  towards  the  ground,  so  as  nearly  to 
hide  the  legs.  Tli<  head  and  tail  are  raised  high,  giv- 
ing him,  on  the  whole,  a  very  proud  and  pompous 
app 

Mr.  Wilson  states,  that  when  he-   first  saw  a  nnml/er 

of  these  birds,  they  were  in  the  ,H  t  of  slriitlinir.  and  that 

the  figure  they    cut    \\a~  BO  novel  and   singular,  that  m- 

ul  of  shooting  at  them,  he  took  out  bis  paper  and  drew 

the  picture  of  one  on  the  spot. 

The  Grous  is   \<i\    particular   in   the   selection  of  its 
place  of  residence.     Open,  dry  plains,  with  only  a  few 


14 


THE    GROUS. 


trees  on  them,  but  which  are  overgrown  wilh  shrubs,  are 
its  favorite  haunts.  They  are  never  found  in  high  for- 
ests, nor  in  low  marshy  places.  Probably  the  reason  for 
this  maybe,  that  they  fly  in  a  straight  line,  their  wings 
not  being  calculated  to  make  short  turns  among  the  trees 
of  a  thick  forest.  And,  their  food  is  not  found  in  marshy 
ground,  as  it  consists  chiefly  of  the  small  acorns  which 
grow  on  the  shrub  oak,  and  of  such  berries  as  grow  only 
on  dry  ground. 

The  Pinnated  Grous.it  is  believed,  never  drinks  from 
brooks  or  puddles  of  water,  like  other  birds.  In  con- 
finement, it  will  not  drink  from  a  cup,  but  when  water 
is  thrown  on  the  cage,  it  will  only  sip  the  drops  which 
trickle  down  on  the  bars.  It  is  most  probable,  from  this 
habit,  that  when  in  a  wild  state,  this  bird  drinks  only  the 
drops  of  dew  which  it  finds  on  plants. 

These  birds  are  much  attached  to  the  place  where  they 
take  up  their  residence,  and  from  year  to  year  may  be 
found  within  certain  limited  tracts  of  country,  and  per- 
haps no  where  else  within  hundreds  of  miles  of  that 
place.  In  such  tracts  they  rear  their  young,  range 
through  their  particular  haunts,  and,  unless  destroyed  by 
the  sportsman,  die  of  old  age,  without  once  going  beyond 
a  circuit  of  a  few  miles. 

A  great  peculiarity,  which  marks  the  appearance  of 
this  bird,  are  the  yellow  bags  or  pouches,  situated  on  the 
neck,  and  under  the  forward  wings  of  the  male.  When 
he  is  at  rest,  this  skin  hangs  loose,  and  in  folds.  But 
he  has  the  power  of  filling  them  with  air,  and  when  this 
is  done,  they  resemble,  both  in  color  and  size,  a  couple 
of  oranges,  fully  ripe. 

By  means  of  these  bags,  when  thus  filled,  he  has  the 
power  of  making  a  very  peculiar  noise,  which  may  easily 
be  imitated,  but  cannot  be  described  by  woids.  It  may 
however  be  compared  in  tone  to  that  made  by  the  night- 
hawk,  when  he  descends  from  his  towering  height 
towards  the  earth  ;  but  instead  of  one,  it  consists  of  three 
notes,  the  last  of  which  is  twice  as  long  as  the  others. 
This  noise  may  be  heard  on  a  still  morning  three  or  four 
miles,  and  yet  when  it  is  made  within  a  few  rods  of  a 
person,  who  had  never  heard  it  before,  he  would  think 
it  a  mile  or  two  off".  This  singular  circumstance  seems 
to  be  owing  to  the  manner  in  which  the  noise  is  made, 
for  as  we  have  already  stated,  it  is  done  by  means  of  the 
two  bags  on  each  side  of  his  neck  ;  and  it  is  probably 
by  forcing  the  air  from  them  through  the  wind  pipe,  and 
before  it  reaches  the  bill,  that  (he  sound  is  produced. 
In  this  respect,  it  resembles  the  tones  made  by  men  who 
are  called  ventriloquists,  and  who  have  the  power  of 
speaking  with  a  voice  so  deep  in  the  throat,  as  to  make 
it  appear  at  a  distance,  though  the  person  who  makes  it 
stands  next  to  the  hearer. 

The  Creator  has  made  every  tribe  of  birds,  as  well  as 


other  animals,  with  some  peculiar  traits,  which  distin- 
guish them  from  all  other  kinds,  and  by  which  each  kind 
may  be  known  as  certainly  as  the  features  of  the  human 
face  distinguish  one  person  from  another. 

Each  tribe,  also,  is  endowed  with  such  habits  and 
shapes,  as  best  fit  them  for  the  stations  and  places  which 
they  occupy.  And  we  may  observe,  also,  that  each  kind 
has  a  mode  of  escape,  or  of  protection  from  their  ene- 
mies, which  is  peculiar  to  themselves,  and  which  is  par- 
ticularly adapted  to  their  situation.  In  the  Grous,  a 
bird  which  cannot  fly  to  a  great  distance,  one  mode  of 
escape,  is  the  power  of  uttering  a  sound,  so  deceptive  as 
to  seem  at  a  distance,  when,  in  fact,  it  is  quite  near,  and, 
at  the  same  time,  so  loud,  as  to  appear  near,  when  it  is 
several  miles  off.  In  this  manner  the  hunter  is  deceived 
and  misled,  and  knows  not  where  to  look  for  his  game, 
and  thus  the  bird  escapes. 

This  wonderful  contrivance  is  singularly  well  adapted 
to  a  bird,  like  the  Grous,  which,  by  its  habits,  is  confined 
within  narrow  limits,  so  that  the  sportsman  can  know 
pretty  nearly  where  it  is  to  be  found. 

We  cannot  but  admire  the  benevolence  of  the  Creator, 
in  thus  forming  a  poor  bird  with  such  singular  and  won- 
derful means  of  escaping  from  its  enemies. 

The  males  of  these  curious  birds  have  a  practice  of 
assembling  together,  for  the  purpose  of  holding  what 
may  be  very  properly  called  a  strutting  match. 

The  spot  which  they  select  for  these  struttings,  must 
be  clear  of  bushes,  and  is  generally  a  small  open  place, 
as  much  retired  from  the  observation  of  the  world  as  pos- 
sible. Towards  the  dawn  of  day,  the  company  begin  to 
assemble,  and  sometimes  the  party  consists  of  forty  or 
fifty  members.  When  it  begins  to  grow  light,  one  or 
two  of  them  begin  to  make  the  peculiar  noise  already 
described,  when  those  who  are  absent  appear,  one  after 
another,  from  the  surrounding  bushes.  The  ceremony 
then  begins,  and  each  member  struts  according  to  the 
best  of  his  ability;  every  one  trying  to  outdo  the  others 
in  affected  pomp  and  stateliness.  Sometimes,  as  two 
pass  each  other,  they  exchange  looks  of  insult  and  defi- 
ance, probably  because  the  one  sees  that  the  other  looks 
as  well  as  himself.  These  looks  often  lead  to  desperate 
battles,  in  which  both  parties  engage  with  great  spirit  and 
fierceness,  and  sometimes  they  continue  to  fight  until  the 
rising  of  the  sun,  which  is  always  the  signal  for  the  party 
to  break  up,  each  one  then  going  his  own  way. 

The  places  where  these  birds  hold  such  exhibitions, 
are  sometimes  discovered  by  the  marks  of  their  feet  in 
the  dirt,  and  the  feathers  left  on  the  ground,  and  this  is 
a  sad  discovery  for  the  poor  Grous,  as  it  generally  ends 
in  the  death  of  some  of  the  party. 

The  sportsman  who  finds  such  a  place,  goes  in  the 
day  time,  and  builds  for  himself  a  hiding  place  of  bushes 


T  11  E    1'  A  R  T  R  I  1)  ti  i: 


15 


near  the  spot,  ;nul  on  the  next  morning  takes  care  lobe 

in  il.  In-fore  the  dawn  of  day.  '1'hc  poor  (irons.  n«i  sus- 
p. riiuir  :iny  nii-ii hief,  go  lo  ill'1  place,  ;ui<l  l>.-L.'in  their 
sport.--  as  ii-iinl,  when  ilit-  gunner  shoots  aiiKiiiLT  them  and 

-  main  a."  lir 

Anroni;  sportsmen,  whether  they  go  out  for  profit  or 
amusement,  and  also  am.mi:  the  lovers  of  delicate  mor- 
sels, there  is  no   liinl  moie  snuijhl    after,  or  more  famous 
than  (lie  Grous.     On  this  account,  ih.-\  liavi-,  of   late 
is-,  I'.-come   e\ceedin'_'lv  rue.  so   that  in   the  city  of 

<k,a  pair  not  uncommonly  sells  tor  live  dollars. 
The  female  (iron-  makes  her  n.-st  on  ilic  ground,  lint 
is  so  sly  alionl  the  place,  that  it  ia  rarely  discovered. 
She  lead-  her  hrood  out  in  search  of  provisions,  like  ihe 
common  lien,  and,  like  her,  takes  care  of  llie  family 
without  any  assistance  from  the  male. 

These    liinls  cannot   \>r.    tamed,  for  on  hatching  their 
[1  under  .1  hen,  it  is  found  that  the  young  ones  make 
tlieir  escape  into  the  woods  as  soon  as  (hey  can  fly.* 


THE  PARTRIDGE. 

[  Thin  bird,  in  the  Southern  Stattt,  it  called  Pheaianl.] 

How  large  is  the  Partridge  ? 

The  Partridge  is  a  foot  and  a  half  long,  and  nearly 
two  feet  in  extent,  with  the  wings  spread. 

What  it  its  color  > 

On  the  hack,  upper  part  of  the  wings,  and  neck,  it  is 
spotted,  or  variegated  with  black,  reddish  brown,  pale 
brown  and  white  ;  on  each  side  of  the  neck  there  is  a 
larire  Mark  spot  ;  a  broad  black  stripe  runs  across  the 
tail,  on  each  side  of  which  there  is  a  narrow  one  of 
pale  blue  ;  the  under  parts  are  pale  blue,  spotted  with 
brown. 

U    .re  is  the  partridge  found  ? 

This  bird  is  found  in  all  parts  of  the  United  States. 

( >!  what  IMC  ii  this  bird  ? 

The  Partridge  is  of  considerable  use  as  an  article  of 


'  See  Wilion'i  Ornithology. 


fond.  During  the  tall,  and  beginning  of  winter,  great 
uimiliei  -  of  them  are  taken,  either  in  traps  or  snares,  and 
carried  to  market. 

This  heniKifiil  l-ird  1,\.  -  chiefly  amoii^  mountain*, 
covered  Wllllev  .  such  a-  the  pine,  hemlock 

and  lamel.  Its  place  of  residence  is  entir.lv  dii 
from  that  of  the  grous.  The  Partridge  loves  thick  shady 
places,  which  are  cool  in  summer,  and  warm  in  winter 
while  the  Broils  prefers  ..pen,  barren  plains,  where  it  is 
hot  in  summer,  ami  cold  in  winter.  The  grous  is  never 
found  on  the  ground  occupied  by  the  Partridge,  nor  is  the 
Partridge  often  seen  on  the  plains  with  the  grous. 

The  habits  of  the  Parliidge  ate  very  solitary,  there 
being  seldom  found  more  than  four  or  five  together,  and 
more  commonly  only  one  or  two  are  seen  at  a  time. 

Every  one  who  lives  in  the  neighborhood  of  these 
birds,  has  heard  the  noise  which  they  make  with  their 
wings,  and  which  is  called  drumming.  This  noise  is 
often  mistaken  for  the  low  rumbling  of  distant  thunder, 
and  may  be  heard,  in  a  calm  morning,  at  the  distance  of 
a  mile,  or  more.  It  is  made  only  by  the  male,  who, 
seated  on  some  fallen  tree, strikes  his  wings  on  each  side 
of  it,  at  first  slowly,  and  distinctly,  after  which  the  strokes 
are  quickened,  and  become  so  rapid  as  to  run  into  each 
other,  resembling  the  rolling  of  a  drum.  It  is  singular 
(hat  a  person,  even  after  hearing  the  Partridge  drum 
many  limes,  cannot  form  a  correct  judgment  of  its  dis- 
tance from  him,  it  always  being  further  off  than  he  sus- 
pects. Gunners  who  do  not  well  know  the  habits  of  this 
bird,  often  think  they  have  their  game  quite  near,  when 
in  fact  il  is  half  a  mile  or  more  from  them. 

The  Partridge  makes  her  nest  on  the  ground,  and, like 
other  birds  of  this  kind,  takes  very  little  care  about  its 
construction.  A  few  dried  leaves,  in  some  concealed 
place,  are  all  that  she  requires. 

As  soon  as  the  young  are  hatched,  they  leave  the  nest, 
under  the  direction  of  their  mother,  in  search  of  food; 
and  it  is  quite  interesting  and  curious  to  observe  the  >-..ily 
habits  of  these  little  creatures.  If  the  mother  happens  to 
be  surprised  at  the  head  of  her  family,  she  instantly 
ulteis  a  note  of  alarm,  which  is  as  instantly  understood 
and  obeyed  by  them  all  ;  for  in  a  second  or  two,  • 
one  conceals  itself  so  cunningly  among  the  leaves,  that 
it  is  ran- one  can  be  found.  While  the  young  are  doing 
this,  the  old  bird  acts  her  pan  to  admiration.  She  tum- 
bles, or  rolls  along  on  the  ground,  and  pretends  that  her 

-  and  legs  are  broken,  so  that  the  peis.m,  nist' 
searching  for  the  joung.M  made  to  believe  he-can,  in  the 
lii-t  place,  catch  the   mother  without  dilliculiy.     When 
she  has  led  the  intruder  a  few  rods  from  her   young,  in 
this  way.  she  all  at  once  lakes  wing,  and  is  out  of  si. 
a  moment. 

The  Parliidge  does  not,  like  most  of  our  birds,  migrate 


16 


THE    PARTRIDGE. 


into  a  warmer  climate  during  the  winter,  but  is  a  con- 
stant inhabitant  among  us. 

Mr.  Wilson  relates  a  curious  anecdote  of  one  of  these 
birds.  While  walking  in  the  woods,  he  started  a  mother 
with  only  a  single  young  one,  which  appeared  to  be  only 
a  few  days  old.  The  old  bird  fluttered  before  him  as 
usual,  for  a  moment,  and  then,  as  though  she  recollected 
a  surer  way  of  saving  her  young,  suddenly  flew  back, 
and. seizing  it  with  her  bill,  to  his  astonishment,  rose 
above  the  woods,  and  with  great  rapidity  and  steadiness, 
flew  out  of  his  sight  with  it  in  her  mouth. 

This,  continues  Mr.  Wilson,  was  a  striking  instance 
of  something  more  than  what  is  termed  blind  instinct. 
The  bird  acted  as  the  circumstances  required.  To  carry 
away  a  whole  brood  in  this  manner  at  once,  would  have 
been  impossible,  and  to  attempt  to  save  one  and  leave 
the  others,  would  have  been  unnatural.  She  therefore 
usually  takes  the  only  possible  mode  of  saving  a  whole 
brood,  by  feigning  herself  lame  and  unable  to  fly,  so  as 
to  attract  the  attention  of  the  person  who  intrudes  upon 
her.  But  in  the  present  instance,  having  only  a  single 
young  one,  she  altered  her  plan,  and  adopted  the  most 
simple  and  effectual  mode  of  saving  it. 

This  bird  is  not  easily  seen,  while  sitting  still  among 
the  leaves,  and  of  this  she  seems  to  be  aware,  for  she 
will  permit  a  person,  if  not  seen  herself,  to  come  within 
a  few  yards  of  her,  before  she  flies.  But  if  seen,  and  the 
person  skulks  along  shyly,  now  and  then  giving  her  a 
look,  she  will  commonly  fly  before  he  gets  near  her. 

In  other  respects,  the  Partridge,  particularly  when 
young,  is  so  silly  as  not  to  make  use  of  the  most  common 
means  of  escape.  When  a  brood,  which  are  just  old 
enough  to  fly,  are  started,  they  usually  rise  up  and  light 
on  the  nearest  tree,  and  there  sit,  particularly  if  much 
noise  is  made  below,  until  each  one  in  turn,  is  shot  down 
by  the  sportsman.  They  seem  to  be  so  amazed,  both  at 
the  noise,  and  at  seeing  each  other  fall,  as  not  to  have 
the  power  of  moving.  The  flesh  of  this  bird  has  the 
finest  flavor  in  the  months  of  September  and  October, 
when  they  feed  on  chestnuts  and  partridge  berries.  The 
latter,  which  are  also  known  under  the  name  of  winter- 
green  berries,  give  their  flesh  a  peculiarly  fine  flavor. 

The  Partridge  is  twice  mentioned  in  the  sacred  scrip- 
tures. 

When  David  expostulated  with  Saul,  concerning  his 
cruel  and  unjust  conduct  towards  him,  and  particularly 
his  pursuit  of  him  from  place  to  place,  he  says;  "  The 
king  of  Israel  is  come  out  to  seek  a  flea,  as  when  one 
doth  hunt  a  Parlridge,  in  the  mountains."  1  Samuel, 
26;  20. 

In  the  East,  as  these  birds  cannot  fly  very  far  without 
lighting,  it  is  said  they  are  hunted,  by  watching  the  spot 


where  they  alight,  and  then  suddenly  starting  them 
again  ;  and  that  by  doing  this  several  times,  they  become 
so  fatigued  as  to  be  taken  without  difficulty,  even  with 
the  hand. 

It  is  probable,  that  it  is  to  this  mode  of  hunting  them, 
the  allusion  is  made  ;  and  it  strikingly  represents  the  de- 
fenceless condition  of  David,  and  the  humble  and  lowly 
opinion  he  had  of  himself.  He  was  as  innocent  before 
Saul,  as  this  harmless  bird  was  before  the  hunter,  and  as 
incapable  of  resisting  his  cruel  enemy,  except  by  the 
interposition  of  the  Almighty,  as  the  Partridge  is  of  stand- 
ing against  the  force  of  its  pursuer.  But  David  trusted 
in  God  for  protection  and  safety,  against  all  the  power  of 
his  cruel  enemy ;  and  in  this  he  was  not  disappointed, 
for  the  Almighty  delivered  him  unhurt  from  all  the 
snares  of  his  pursuer. 

The  other  passage  where  this  bird  is  mentioned,  is  in 
Jeremiah,  17 ;  11,  and  is  in  allusion  to  the  curse  which 
attends  riches,  when  obtained  by  fraud  or  oppression. 
"  As  the  Partridge  sitteth  on  eggs,  and  hatcheth  them 
not;  so  he  that  getteth  riches,  and  not  by  right,  shall 
leave  them  in  the  midst  of  his  days,  and  his  end  shall  be 
a  fool." 

The  Partridge  lays  her  eggs  on  the  ground,  and,  as  we 
have  already  stated,  takes  very  little  pains  in  the  con- 
struction of  her  nest.  When  she  begins  to  sit,her  instinct 
teaches  her  to  expect  a  large  brood,  but  it  often  happens, 
that  by  reason  of  the  rain,  or  some  other  misfortune,  few 
of  her  eggs  produce  young  birds,  and  thus  she  sets  with- 
out hatching,  and  is  disappointed. 

So  it  is  with  men  who  gain  wealth  by  unjust  means. 
They  for  a  time,  perhaps,  may  enjoy  themselves,  and  are 
looking  forward  for  much  happiness  in  the  world ;  but 
even  in  this  life,  such  people  are  often  disappointed. 
They  brood  over  their  ill-gotten  riches,  and  are  incon- 
stant fear,  lest  they  should,  in  one  way  or  another,  be 
taken  from  them.  Their  consciences  accuse  them  of 
having  been  guilty  of  fraud,  and  they  are  in  continual 
apprehension  that  some  circumstance  will  suddenly  re- 
veal to  the  world  their  dishonesty.  Thus  riches,  when 
obtained  by  fraud  or  oppression,  become  the  cause  of 
misery,  instead  of  being  a  source  of  comfort  and  hap- 
piness. 

Then  let  us  always  remember,  "  that  honesty  is  the 
best  policy,"  and  that  we  had  much  better  be  poor  and 
happy,  than  rich  and  miserable.  Let  us  also  remember, 
that  if  dishonest  gain  is  often  a  source  of  trouble  and 
misery  in  this  world,  it  will  be  still  more  so  in  the  world 
to  come,  for  on  the  great  day  of  account,  all  our  secret 
frauds  will  not  only  be  published  to  the  assembled  uni- 
verse, but  we  shall  be  punished  according  to  the  deeds 
done  in  the  body. 


T  H  K    Q  I    A  I  I, 


17 


TIII:  ta  AH. 

[In  tome  parti  of.tmrriea,  IMa  bird  it  tailed  I'urtrulge.] 

II.  v. 

The  i|iiail  IN  miii-  inches  Inn,',  and  fourteen  inches  in 
exii-nl,  with  the  v.  .id. 

What  is  its  color  ? 

Its  general  color  is  reddish  brown,  spoiled  with  lilark  ; 

over  the  e\ex  and  run niiiLr  down  the  neck  (here  is  a  patch 

of  while;    tin-    breast  and    tinder  parts,  aie  pale  \  ellow. 

I  u  ith  Mack  ;     ihe  throat   is    white,  and   I  he  legs 

pale  ash  color. 

Win  :.  ..'ill   ! 

The  Quail  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  United  States,  from 
Canada  to  Florida.  It  is  also  found  in  almost  every  part 
of  Euro] 

Ofwli.it  use  u  the  Quail  ? 

This  bird  is  much  esteemed  as  an  article  of  food.  In 
autumn  and  at  the  beginning  of  winter,  it  is  very  fat  and 
plump,  and  is  then  considered  a  delicacy  for  the  table. 

The  particular  places  where  Quails  love  to  reside,  are 
not  among  ihe  mountains,  like  the  partridge,  nor  on  the 
barren  plains,  with  the  grous,  but  about  cultivated  fields, 
and  in  open  places  around  the  borders  of  woodlands. 
Sometimes  they  venture  even  to  the  barn  yard,  where 
they  feed  with  the  poultry,  and  if  not  frightened  away, 
will  become  so  tame  as  to  pick  up  corn  when  thrown 
them. 

These  poor  birds  are,  however,  every  where  persecu- 
ted and  destroyed  ;  not  on  account  of  the  mischief  they 
do,  but  because  their  flesh  is  a  delicate  morsel  to  the  taste 
of  man.  No  wild  bird  of  equal  value  is  so  easily  taken. 
Their  simplicity  and  want  of  suspicion,  lead  them  into 
trap-;  and  snares,  which  the  more  cunning  and  sagacious 
of  the  feathered  race  take  care  to  -.linn.  Almost  every 
boy  in  the  country ,  during  the  fall  and  winter,"is  armed 
with  a  gun,  or  the  more  insidious  quail  trap,  for  their 
destruction  ;  and  did  they  not  multiply  in  great  num- 
it  is  not  easy  to  see  why  the  whole  race  would  not 
be  exterminated. 

Quails  build  their  nests  about  walls,  or  fences,  or  in 
the  open  fields,  under  a  bush,  or  thick  tuft  of  grass  ;  and 
in  its  construction  they  employ  more  industry  than  most 
birds  of  this  kind.  The  materials  are  dry  grass,  and  the 
is  covered  over  on  the  top,  to  secure  it  from  the 
4 


rain.  In  lionl  there  is  a  d«.nr-way.  or  entiance  lor  the 
bird. 

Quail*  lay  from  twelve  to  twenty-four  eirv  . 
soon  as  the   vouim   crawl  out  of  their  shells,  ih<  •-. 
ready  to  follow  then  mother  in  seaich  of  lh- ••<,  and  small 
insects  for  food. 

Should  a  person  surprise  this  beautiful  little  I. HIM 
could  not  bin  be  interested  iooli-n\r  ill(-  ail  which 
mother  and   young   employ  to  escape  fiom  harm.     The 
old  hud,  like  the  partridge,  makes  use  of  fal-e  pn-i. 

i  tin-  ait<  niioii  of  the  intruder,  luit  it  is  done  m  a 

still  e  artful  manner.      She  pretends,  by  her  actions, 

that  she  is  nni  only  sorely  wounded,  and  unuble  to  get 
out  of  the  way,  hut  that  her  cast;  is  des|>erale;  for  she 
imitates  the  dy  mi:  Main  go  well,  that  one  can  hardly 
help  thinking  the  poor  biid  is  actually  at  the  point  oi 
death.  While  the  person  is  admiring  such  a  specimen 
of  instinctive  art  in  the  old  bird,  or  trying  to  catch  hei, 
the  young  dive  into  the  iriav-:.  and  lie  so  close,  that  it  is 
lare  one  of  them  can  be  found  ;  while  (lie  mother,  the 
moment  she  thinks  them  safe,  no  longer  pretends  dis- 
tress, but  takes  wing  and  is  out  of  sight.  As  soon  as  all 
danger  is  over,  she  goes  back,  and  utters  her  call,  u  hen 
in  a  few  minutes  she  is  again  surrounded  by  her  family, 
all  alive  and  well.  Thus  do  these  innocent  birds  escape, 
by  means  of  the  instinctive  sagacity  with  which  the  Cre- 
ator has  kindly  endowed  them. 

Young  Quails,  when  hatched  under  a  hen,  soon  learn 
the  call  of  their  adopted  mother,  and  though  more  apt  to 
stray  away  and  get  lost  than  other  chickens,  still  they 
often,  for  the  first  season,  become  so  tame  as  to  run  for 
their  food  with  the  others,  when  (ailed.  Hut  however 
tame  they  may  become  during  the  first  winter,  they  uni- 
formly make  their  escape  m  the  spring,  and  never  return. 
Mr.  Wilson  gives  an  accotintof  two  of  these  birds,  which 
wen-  hatched  under  a  hen,  and  which  when  weaned  by 
her,  associated  with  the  cows.  They  regularly  followed 
these  animals  to  the  pasture,  in  the  morning,  and  return- 
ed with  them  at  evening,  and  always  staid  by,  while 
they  were  milked.  In  the  winter,  they  took  up  then 
residence  in  the  stable  with  the  cows,  but  as  soon  as 
spring  appeared,  they  flew  away,  and  were  not  seen 
afterwards. 

Common  chickens,  when  hatched  by  a  Quail,  will  par- 
take of  her  manners  and  habits ;  the  eflecl  being  just  the 
contrary  of  that  produced  by  hatching  the  Quail  under 
a  hen. 

Mr.  Wilson  tells  us,  that  a  friend  of  his  made  an  e\. 
periment,  by  putting  pome  In  i  under  a  Quail 

while  she  was  silting,  first  taking  away  her  CL'L'S,  when 
she  was  absent.     She  hatched  them  all.  and  for  sc 
weeks  afterwards,  he  often  saw  the  brood,  and  observed 
the  conduct,  both  of  the  chickens  and  their  mother-in- 


20 


THE    SWALLOW. 


perhaps  begin  with  the  song  of  the  robin,  then  whistle 
like  a  quail,  then  squall  like  a  cat-bird,  then  twitter  like 
a  swallow,  and  so  on,  running  through  the  notes  of 
every  bird  in  the  woods,  with  surprising  truth  and 
rapidity.  . 

When  tamed,  he  mocks  every  sound  he  hears,  with 
equal  exactness,  and  it  is  often  very  amusing  to  witness 
the  effect  of  this  deception.  He  whistles  for  the  dog ; 
the  dog  jumps  up,  wags  his  tail,  and  runs  to  look  for  his 
master.  He  peeps  like  a  hurt  chicken ;  and  the  old  hen 
runs  clucking  to  see  who  has  injured  her  brood.  He 
mews  like  a  kitten,  and  mother  puss  hearkens,  and  stares 
to  find  where  the  noise  comes  from,  and  many  other 
things  of  this  kind  he  does  to  perfection. 

The  Mocking  Bird  is  much  esteemed  by  those  who  are 
fond  of  such  amusements,  and  in  most  of  our  large  cities 
they  are  kept  for  sale  by  the  dealers  in  birds.  The  price 
for  common  singers  is  from  ten  to  twenty  dollars.  For 
fine  singers,  from  thirty  to  fifty  dollars,  and  for  very 
extraordinary  ones,  even  a  hundred  dollars  has  been 
refused. 

When  we  walk  out  into  the  woods,  how  are  we 
cheered  with  the  songs,  and  gratified  with  the  sight  of 
the  birds  which  surround  us.  The  green  grass,  the  beau- 
tiful flowers,  and  the  tall  trees  of  the  forest,  it  is  true, 
are  pleasant  to  the  sight.  But  these  are  inanimate ; 
they  preserve  a  dead  and  perpetual  silence.  They  grat- 
ify the  eye,  but  the  ear  would  be  left  untouched,  and 
the  charms  of  nature  but  half,  complete  without  the 
feathered  songsters.  When  we  walk  alone  through  the 
solitary  forest,  they  become  our  companions,  and  seem 
to  take  pleasure  in  displaying  their  beauties,  and  raising 
their  best  notes  for  our  amusement. 

Thus,  the  fowls  of  the  air,  by  the  benevolence  of  the 
Creator,  add  to  our  pleasures,  and  lighten  our  hearts. 
What  child,  then,  can  be  so  selfish,  and  ungrateful,  as  to 
enjoy  these  pleasures  without  thinking  WHO  it  is  he 
ought  to  thank  for  them. 

It  is  to  "  our  Father  in  heaven,"  that  we  are  to  give 
thanks  for  the  innocent,  pleasures  we  enjoy,  as  well  as 
for  the  more  necessary  provision  of  our  daily  bread. 


THE  SWALLOW. 

The  swallow  tribe  have  short  bills,  which  are  broad 
at  the  root,  sharp  at  the  end,  and  a  little  hooked  :  their 
tails  are  forked ;  their  legs  short,  and  in  most  of  them, 
the  toes  are  placed  three  forward  and  one  backward. 
Their  wings  are  long,  and  they  fly  with  wonderful  swift- 
ness. Besides  the  several  kinds  of  Swallows,  known  by 
that  name,  the  Marten,  and  some  others,  belong  to  this 
tribe. 


THE  MARTEN. 
How  large  a  bird  is  the  Marten  ? 

The  Marten  is  considerably  larger  than  the  Swallow, 
being  eight  inches  long,  and,  with  the  wings  spread, 
sixteen  inches  in  extent. 

What  color  is  this  bird  ? 

The  wings  and  tail  are  brownish  black,  the  other 
parts  are  of  a  purplish  blue,  very  deep  and  rich.  In  the 
sun,  beautiful  violet  reflections  are  thrown  out  from  the 
neck  and  breast. 

What  is  the  shape  of  the  Marten  ? 

In  shape,  this  bird  resembles  the  others  of  the  swallow 
kind.  The  body,  legs  and  bill,  are  short,  the  wings 
long,  the  tail  forked,  and  the  eyes  full  and  dark. 

These  innocent  birds  are  well  known  throughout  the 
country,  and  are  general  favorites  wherever  they  take 
up  their  residence. 

Like  all  the  swallow  tribe,  they  migrate  on  the  ap- 
proach of  winter  to  a  warmer  climate,  and  make  their 
appearance  again  sometime  in  the  month  of  April,  when 
they  are  hailed  with  a  hearty  welcome.  The  Martens 
are  come!  is  always  a  piece  of  news  that  is  heard  with 
pleasure,  and  generally  every  child  runs  out,  to  satisfy 
himself  of  its  truth. 

This  agreeable  bird  always  takes  up  its  summer  resi- 
dence about  the  habitations  of  men,  and  its  confidence 
and  familiarity  are  generally  a  protection  against  injury. 
There  is  scarcely  a  boy,  however  fond  he  may  be  of  his 
gun,  who  will  shoot  a  Marten.  Such  an  act  of  deprav- 
ity, indeed,  would  be  considered,  in  most  neighborhoods, 
too  base  and  cruel  to  be  soon  forgotten. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  forest,  and  the  poor  laboring 
slave,  as  well  as  the  refined  people  of  the  world,  agree 
in  offering  hospitality  to  the  Marten. 

It  is  common,  Mr.  Wilson  tells  us,  among  several 
tribes  of  Indians,  to  cut  off  the  upper  branches  of  a  tree 
near  their  cabins,  leaving  their  prongs  a  foot  or  two  long, 
and  to  hang  a  hollow  gourd  shell  to  each  prong,  for  these 
birds  to  build  their  nests  in.  And,  on  the  banks  of  the 
Mississippi,  the  negroes  set  up  long  canes  with  a  box  on 
the  top,  for  the  same  purpose.  It  is  common,  indeed,  in 
all  parts  of  our  country,  for  people  to  set  up  some  sort  of 
accommodation  for  this  favorite  bird. 

Their  mode  of  building  is  too  well  known  to  need 
description.  They  commonly  repair  their  nest  from  year 


THE    SWALLOW 


ir,  ami,  unless  their  box  is  torn  down,  continue  to 
rear  their  VOIMIL;  in  the  same  place,  from  one  uenerulion 
to  anodicr. 

While  tin-  female   is   selling  on  her  eggs,  tlic    ninlr  is 

'tlenlive  lo  her,  visiting  lirr  many  limes  in  tlie  da\ , 

and  frequently  taking  her  place,  while  she  -jors  al>road 

for  exercise  and  food.      When  In-  comes  home,   afier  an 

excursion,  lie  aUvn  .redly  to  the  nest,  and  looks 

in  to  see    how    -lie   il.M  -.  ati'l  on  Mii-li   occasions,  their 

*  are  particularly  soft  and  tend'  r. 

The-,,-  I, iuls  always  unite  in  pairs,  and  arc  so  attached 
to  each  oilier,  I  hat  if  a  third  comes,  they  will  both  attack 
anil  drive  it  away. 

Tin!  Marten  is  a  bird  of  great  courage,  and   does  not 

'•  to  attack  the   crow,  or  hawk,  if  they  come  too 

near  his  nest.     OHMU-'I  MIIV  ol   them  unite 

for    the  »eneral   defence,  and  do  not   <:ive  up  the    battle 

until  the  enemy  i>  driven  out  of  the  tieiL'hliorhood. 

The  wren  olien  troubles  ihe  Marten  in  a  most  imper- 
tinent and  piovokinij  manner.  Beinir  the  smaller  biid, 
they  take  adv  •  the  Marten's  absence,  lo  fill  up 

the   p  ,  so  that  when  the  owner  comes 

home,  he  finds  his  door  shut  against  him,  and  his  house 
occupied  by  another  family.  Sometimes,  also,  these 
impudent  little  warriors  will  attack  the  Martens,  and 
drive  them  out  by  main  force;  or  tease  them  until,  for 
their  own  comfort,  they  give  them  up  their  property,  and 
go  lo  another  place  and  build  anew.  In  the  following 
instance,  however.  It  appears  that  the  Martens  Were  tOO 
cunninvr.  even  for  the  wren. 

•nple  of  Martens  had,  for  several  years,  occupied 
a  certain  ca-v,  which  was  fixed  on  the  side  of  the  house. 
One  d:i\.  these  birds  Weir  observed  to  be  in  a  stole  ot' 
threat  agitation  and  alarm.  They  would  fly  to  the  cage, 
butin  a  moment  leave  it  a^ain.as  though  afraid  logo  in, 
at  the  same  time  uttering  cries  of  alarm  and  dread.  On 
watchinir  their  motions,  and  looking  at  the  cage,  to  find 
out  the-  cause  of  this  trouble,  a  pair  of  wrens  were  ob- 
served to  come  out  of  it,  and,  after  giving  themselves  a 
,rs  of  importance,  and  triumph,  (lew  away.  The 
Martens  t,,ok  this  opportunity  of  returning  to  the  cage, 
but  their  stay  was  short,  for  the  wrens  came  back  in  a 
few  minutes,  and  drove  them  av 

This  squabbling  for  the  ri-rht  of  possession,  continued 

most  of  the  day,  but  on  the  following  morning,  when  the 

wren-  ipnlted   the   caire,  the   Martens   instantly,  and   as 

though   they  had   l>efore  agreed  what  to  do,  entered  it, 

and  went  to  work  with  all  their  miL'ht,lo  break  up  their 

It  minhi  have    Ken    thought,  that  out  of  spite  to 

.  they  intended  lo  destroy  their  ne-l,  so  that  it 

should  be  of  no  use  to  them.     But  this  did  not  prove  to 

ij  part  of  their  plan.      Having  broken  up  tin 
they  began  to  pile  up  the  pieces,  so  as  lo  till  the  door  of 


their  cage;  and  such  was  the  ingenuity  and  industry 
with  which  ibis  was  done,  that  it  was  soon  made 
against  the  eiiliance  of  their  little  enemies.  The  Mai- 
;tiside.  and  when  (he  wrens  came,  they  tneil 
lo  force  a  passage,  but  found  the  pi. ice  too  strong  for 
them.  For  nearly  two  da\s  did  ibis  heroic  pair  defend 
themselves,  without  a  mouthful  of  provisions,  while  the 

on  the  outside   pressed  the  siege  with  L1: 
trying  to  be  at  down  (heir  works,  so  as  to  gam  an  enti 
l-'indinir,  at   last,   that  (heir  force  was  not   sufficient   t..r 
stirh  an  enterprise,  they  abandoned  the  place,  anil   left 
the  Ma i  tens  in  possession  of  their  property,  though  some- 
what injured  by  the  war. 


THE  IUHN  SWALLOW. 

The  color  of  this  well   known  little   bird,  along  the 
back,  is  steel  blue;  the   wings  and  tail   arc  black, 
the  under   parts    brownish    red.      Its   length   is   seven 
inches,  and  with  its  wings  spread,  it  is  thirteen  inches  in 
extent. 

The  Swallow  inhabits  almost  every  part  of  the  world. 
In  this  country,  it  migrates  as  the  seasons  change,  leav- 
ing us  in  the  fall,  and  returning  again  in  the  spring. 

Just  before  these   birds  d.  they  assemble   in 

vast  flocks,  and  setile  on  the  top-  of  houses  and  trees, 
and  particularly  on  the  steeples  of  churches.  From 
these  places  they  take  their  flight,  and  in  the  course  of 
a  day  or  two  after  they  begin  to  assemble,  not  a  single 
one  is  to  be  seen. 

The  sudden  manner  in  which  they  disappear,  together 
with  (he  fact  that  flocks  of  them  are  seen  about  mill- 
ponds,  before  they  set  out  on  their  journey,  has  made 
some  people  believe,  that  Swallows  go  into  the  mud, 
and  (here  lie  in  a  torpid  Male  duriiiL'  the  winter.  In 
proof  of  this,  it  is  said  that  these  h!rd>  ha\e  been  found 
under  the  water,  at  the  bottoms  of  ponds,  in  the  winter, 
and  that  on  warmmi:  them,  they  have  revived  from  their 
torpid  state,  and  down  away. 

It  is  believed,  however,,  that  these  birds  are  incapable 
of  living  under  the  water,  and  therefore  that  such  stones 
must  be  without  foundation.  The  extreme  rapidity  with 
which  they  fiv,  would  enable  them  to  pass  from  one 
country  to  another,  in  a  very  short  time,  while  the  man- 
ner in  which  they  live,  that  of  catching  insects  in  the  air, 
and  eating  them  while  on  the  win-?,  would  make  it  tin- 


20 


THE    SWALLOW. 


perhaps  begin  with  the  song  of  the  robin,  then  whistle 
like  a  quail,  then  squall  like  a  cat-bird,  then  twitter  like 
a  swallow,  and  so  on,  running  through  the  notes  of 
every  bird  in  the  woods,  with  surprising  truth  and 
rapidity. 

When  tamed,  he  mocks  every  sound  he  hears,  with 
equal  exactness,  and  it  is  often  very  amusing  to  witness 
the  effect  of  this  deception.  He  whistles  for  the  dog  ; 
the  dog  jumps  up,  wags  his  tail,  and  runs  to  look  for  his 
master.  He  peeps  like  a  hurt  chicken  ;  and  the  old  hen 
runs  clucking  to  see  who  has  injured  her  brood.  He 
mews  like  a  kitten,  and  mother  puss  hearkens,  and  stares 
to  find  where  the  noise  comes  from,  and  many  other 
things  of  this  kind  he  does  to  perfection. 

The  Mocking  Bird  is  much  esteemed  by  those  who  are 
fond  of  such  amusements,  and  in  most  of  our  large  cities 
they  are  kept  for  sale  by  the  dealers  in  birds.  The  price 
for  common  sin§ers  is  from  ten  to  twenty  dollars.  For 
fine  singers,  from  thirty  to  fifty  dollars,  and  for  very 
extraordinary  ones,  even  a  hundred  dollars  has  been 
refused. 

When  we  walk  out  into  the  woods,  how  are  we 
cheered  with  the  songs,  and  gratified  with  the  sight  of 
the  birds  which  surround  us.  The  green  grass,  the  beau- 
tiful flowers,  and  the  tall  trees  of  the  forest,  it  is  true, 
are  pleasant  to  the  sight.  But  these  are  inanimate ; 
they  preserve  a  dead  and  perpetual  silence.  They  grat- 
ify the  eye,  but  the  ear  would  be  left  untouched,  and 
the  charms  of  nature  but  half,  complete  without  the 
feathered  songsters.  When  we  walk  alone  through  the 
solitary  forest,  they  become  our  companions,  and  seem 
to  take  pleasure  in  displaying  their  beauties,  and  raising 
their  best  notes  for  our  amusement. 

Thus,  the  fowls  of  the  air,  by  the  benevolence  of  the 
Creator,  add  to  our  pleasures,  and  lighten  our  hearts. 
What  child,  then,  can  be  so  selfish,  and  ungrateful,  as  to 
enjoy  these  pleasures  without  thinking  WHO  it  is  he 
ought  to  thank  for  them. 

It  is  to  "  our  Father  in  heaven,"  that  we  are  to  give 
thanks  for  the  innocent  pleasures  we  enjoy,  as  well  as 
for  the  more  necessary  provision  of  our  daily  bread. 


THE  SWALLOW. 

The  swallow  tribe  have  short  bills,  which  are  broad 
at  the  root,  sharp  at  the  end,  and  a  little  hooked  :  their 
tails  are  forked ;  their  legs  short,  and  in  most  of  them, 
the  toes  are  placed  three  forward  and  one  backward. 
Their  wings  are  long,  and  they  fly  with  wonderful  swift- 
ness. Besides  the  several  kinds  of  Swallows,  known  by 
that  name,  the  Marten,  and  some  others,  belong  to  this 
tribe. 


i 


THE  MARTEN. 
How  large  a  bird  is  the  Marten  ? 

The  Marten  is  considerably  larger  than  the  Swallow, 
being  eight  inches  long,  and,  with  the  wings  spread, 
sixteen  inches  in  extent. 

What  color  is  this  bird  ? 

The  wings  and  tail  are  brownish  black,  the  other 
parts  are  of  a  purplish  blue,  very  deep  and  rich.  In  the 
sun,  beautiful  violet  reflections  are  thrown  out  from  the 
neck  and  breast. 

What  is  the  shape  of  the  Marten  > 

In  shape,  this  bird  resembles  the  others  of  the  swallow 
kind.  The  body,  legs  and  bill,  are  short,  the  wings 
long,  the  tail  forked,  and  the  eyes  full  and  dark. 

These  innocent  birds  are  well  known  throughout  the 
country,  and  are  general  favorites  wherever  they  take 
up  their  residence. 

Like  all  the  swallow  tribe,  they  migrate  on  the  ap- 
proach of  winter  to  a  warmer  climate,  and  make  their 
appearance  again  sometime  in  the  month  of  April,  when 
they  are  hailed  with  a  hearty  welcome.  The  Martens 
are  come  !  is  always  a  piece  of  news  that  is  heard  with 
pleasure,  and  generally  every  child  runs  out,  to  satisfy 
himself  of  its  truth. 

This  agreeable  bird  always  takes  up  its  summer  resi- 
dence about  the  habitations  of  men,  and  its  confidence 
and  familiarity  are  generally  a  protection  against  injury. 
There  is  scarcely  a  boy,  however  fond  he  may  be  of  his 
gun,  who  will  shoot  a  Marten.  Such  an  act  of  deprav- 
ity, indeed,  would  be  considered,  in  most  neighborhoods, 
too  base  and  cruel  to  be  soon  forgotten. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  forest,  and  the  poor  laboring 
slave,  as  well  as  the  refined  people  of  the  world,  agree 
in  offering  hospitality  to  the  Marten. 

It  is  common,  Mr.  Wilson  tells  us,  among  several 
tribes  of  Indians,  to  cut  off"  the  upper  branches  of  a  tree 
near  their  cabins,  leaving  their  prongs  a  foot  or  two  long, 
and  to  hang  a  hollow  gourd  shell  to  each  prong,  for  these 
birds  to  build  their  nests  in.  And,  on  the  banks  of  the 
Mississippi,  the  negroes  set  up  long  canes  with  a  box  on 
the  top,  for  the  same  purpose.  It  is  common,  indeed,  in 
all  parts  of  our  country,  for  people  to  set  tip  some  sort  of 
accommodation  for  this  favorite  bird. 

Their  mode  of  building  is  too  well  known  to  need 
description.  They  commonly  repair  their  nest  from  year 


T  1!  K    .s  U  A  LLOW 


21 


to  year,  and,  miles-  their  box  is  torn  down,  continue  to 
ieai  their  young  in  ihc  same  place,  from  one  iiem-ration 
to  another. 

\Vhde  tin-  female   is  -ruin::  <MI  IUT  eggs,  the   in; 
\eryattentive  (o  her,  visiting  IUT  many  times  in  the  day, 
and  frequently  taking  her  place,  while  she  noes  abroad 

for  exercise  and  food.     When  he  ci a  home,  after  an 

excursion.  In-  alu  directly  lo  tin-  nest,  and  looks 

in  to  see    how   >he   does,  ami  mi  such   occasions,  their 
•s  arc  particularly  soli  and  tender. 

These  liirds  always  mute  in  pans,  ami  an- so  attached 
lo  each  other,  that  it'  a  third  comes,  they  u  ill  liotli  attack 
and  drive  K  away. 

The  Marten  ii  a  hird  of  great  courage,  and  does  not 
he-Hate  to  attack  the  crow,  or  hawk,  if  they  come  too 
near  his  nest.  On  such  occasions,  many  of  them  unite 
for  the  ueneral  defence,  ami  do  not  give  up  the  battle 
until  the  enemy  i>  driven  out  of  the  neighborhood. 

The  wren  often  trouble-:  the  Marten  in  a  most  imper- 
tinent and  provoking  manner.  Being  the  smaller  biid, 
the}  take  advantage  of"  the  Marten's  absence,  to  fill  up 
the  passage  to  hi-  nest,  so  that  when  the  owner  comes 
home,  he  finds  his  door  shut  against  him,  and  his  house 
occupied  by  another  family.  Sometimes,  also,  these 
impudent  little  warriors  will  attack  the  Martens,  and 
drive  them  out  by  main  force;  or  tense  them  until,  for 
their  own  comfort,  they  give  them  up  their  property,  and 
go  to  another  place  and  I. mid  anew.  In  the  following 
instance,  however,  it  appears  that  the  Martens  were  too 
cnnniti','.  even  for  the  wren. 

•  uple  of  Martens  had,  for  several  years,  occupied 
rtaiu  cage,  which  was  fixed  on  the  side  of  the  house. 
One  day,  these  birds  were  observed  to  be  in  a  stale  of 
great  agitation  ami  alarm.  They  would  fly  to  the  cage, 
but  in  a  moment  leave  it  again,  as  though  afraid  to  go  in, 
at  the  same  time  uttering  cries  of  alarm  and  dread.  On 
watching  their  motions,  and  looking  at  the  cage,  to  find 
out  the  cause  of  this  trouble,  a  pair  of  wrens  were  ob- 
served to  come  out  of  it,  and,  after  giving  themselves  a 
lew  airs  of  importance,  and  triumph,  flew  away.  The 
Martens  took  this  opportunity  of  returning  to  the  cage, 
but  their  stay  was  short,  for  the  wrens  came  back  in  a 
few  minutes,  and  drove  them  away. 

This  squabbling  for  the  risfht  of  possession,  continued 

most  of  the  day,  but  on  the  following  morning,  when  the 

w  i'  11-  quitted   the    cam-,   the    Martens    instantly,  and   as 

though    they  had   before  agreed  what    lo   do,  entered  it, 

and  went  to  work  with  all  their  miL'ht,  to  break  up  their 

t.      It  mi::hi  have   hen    thought,  (hat  out  of  spite  lo 

the  \vivns  they  intended  to  destroy  their  nest,  so  that  it 

should  be  of  no  use  to  them.     But  this  did  not  prove  to 

be  any  part  of  their  plan.     Having  broken  up  the  nest, 

v  began  to  pile  up  the  pieces,  so  as  to  fill  the  door  of 


their  cage;  and  such  was  the  ingenuity  and  industry 
with  which  this  wiifl  dom,  that  it  was  soon  made  pi.  -I 
agnillst  the  entrance  of  then  little  enemies.  The  Mai- 
Mod  inside,  and  when  the  \\  tens  came,  they  tiled 
to  force  a  hut  found  the  place  too  strong  for 

(hem.      For  nearly  two  days  did  this  heroic  pan  ii 

themselves,  without  a  uthl'ul  of  provisions,  while  the 

wrens  on  the  outside  pressed  i be  siege  with -i 
trying  to  beat  down  their  works,  so  a*  to  gain  an  enn 
Finding,  at  last,   that  (heir  force  was  not  sufficient  for 
such  an  enterprise,  they  abandoned  the  place,  and   left 
the  Ma i  tens  ID  possession  of  their  property,  though  some- 
what injured  by  the  wur. 


THE  BARN  SWAI.I.OW 

The  color  of  this  well  known  litlle  bird,  along  the 
back,  is  steel  blue;  the  winga  and  tail  arc  black,  and 
the  under  parts  brownish  red.  Its  length  is  seven 
inches,  and  with  its  wings  spread,  it  is  thirteen  inches  in 
extent. 

The  Swallow  inhabits  almost  every  part  of  the  world. 
In  this  country,  it  migrates  as  the  seasons  change,  leav- 
ing us  in  the  fall,  and  returning  again  in  the  spring. 

Just  before  these  birds  disappear,  they  assemble  in 
vast  flocks,  and  settle  on  the  tops  of  houses  and  trees, 
and  particularly  on  the  steeples  of  churches.  From 
these  places  they  lake  their  tliiiht,  and  in  the  course  of 
a  day  or  two  after  they  begin  to  assemble,  not  a  single 
one  is  to  be  seen. 

The  sudden  manner  in  which  they  disappear,  together 
with  the  fact  that  flocks  of  them  are  seen  about  mill- 
ponds,  before  they  set  out  on  their  journey,  has  made 
some  people  believe,  that  Swallows  -o  mto  the  mud, 
and  there  lie  in  a  torpid  state  during  the  winter.  In 
proof  of  this,  it  is  said  that  these  bird-  have  been  found 
under  the  water,  -it  the  bottoms  of  pond*,  in  the  v.  ,nler, 
and  that  on  warming  them,  they  ha\e  revived  from  their 
(orpid  state,  ami  flown  away. 

It  is  believed,  however,  that  these  birds  are  incapable 
of  living  under  the  water,  and  therefore  that  such  Moi  ies 
must  he  without  foundation.  The  exlieme  rapidity  with 
which  they  fly,  would  enable  them  to  pass  from  one 
country  to  another,  in  a  very  short  time,  while  the  man- 
ner in  which  they  live,  thai  of  catching  insects  in  the  air, 
and  eating  them  while  on  the  win;:,  would  make  it  un- 


22 


THE    SWALLOW. 


necessary  for  them  to  stop  on  their  journey  for  the  pur- 
pose of  obtaining  food. 

Flocks  of  them  have  been  seen  far  at  sea  ;  and  some- 
times during  a  storm,  they  have  become  so  fatigued  with 
their  journey,  as  to  light  and  rest  awhile  on  some  part  of 
the  vessel. 

From  all  northern  countries,  these  birds  take  their 
flight  towards  the  south,  in  time  to  reach  a  warm  climate 
before  the  approach  of  winter.  The  time  of  leaving, 
therefore,  depends  on  the  distance  they  have  to  fly.  In 
New  England,  they  leave  about  the  middle  of  Septem- 
ber ;  but  in  Florida,  they  remain  until  the  last  of  that 
month,  or  the  beginning  of  October. 

They  are  said  to  arrive  in  Africa  the  first  week  in  Oc- 
tober, and  to  leave  England  the  last  week  in  September ; 
so  that  they  perform  the  journey  from  one  country  to  the 
other,  in  a  week's  time. 

The  Swallo^Pis  a  pattern  of  the  most  unwearied  and 
laborious  industry.  From  morning  till  night,  when  these 
birds  have  a  family  to  maintain,  they  spend  their  whole 
time  in  skimming  along  near  the  ground,  in  search  of 
insects  for  their  young.  At  these  times,  they  always  fly 
with  their  mouths  wide  open,  and  when  they  catch  an 
insect,  a  smart  snap  of  the  bill  may  be  heard,  like  the 
shutting  of  a  watch-case. 

This  bird  builds  her  nest  in  barns,  or  other  out-houses. 
It  is  constructed  of  mud,  which  is  used  in  so  soft  a  state, 
as  to  adhere  to  the  side  of  the  barn  or  board.  The  inside 
is  lined  with  dry  grass,  with  a  covering  of  feathers,  for 
the  young  birds  to  lie  on. 

Professor  Kalm  relates  the  following  anecdote  of  a 
Swallow,  which  he  had  from  good  authority. 

A  couple  of  Swallows  built  their  nest  in  a  stable,  and 
the  female,  having  laid  her  eggs,  was  about  to  sit  on 
them.  At  this  time,  the  male  was  seen  flying  about  the 
nest  in  great  agitation,  and  was  heard  to  utter  cries  of 
distress.  On  going  to  the  nest,  the  female  was  found 
dead,  but  still  sitting  on  her  eggs,  and  was  taken  out  and 
thrown  away.  The  male  then  went  himself,  and  sat  on 
the  eggs ;  but  after  remaining  there  two  or  three  hours, 
and  perhaps  finding  the  confinement  disagreeable  to 
him,  lie  went  away,  and  was  sometime  absent.  When 
he  returned,  he  brought  with  him  another  female,  who 
took  the  place  of  the  dead  bird,  sat  upon  the  eggs, 
hatched  them,  and  afterwards  fed  the  young  birds,  until 
they  could  provide  for  themselves. 

The  Swallow  is  mentioned  several  times  in  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  and  in  each  passage  there  is  a  reference  to 
some  part  of  its  natural  history. 

In  the  84th  Psalm,  the  sacred  writer  has  a  beautiful 
allusion  to  the  habit  this  bird  has  of  building  her  nest 
about  the  dwellings  of  mankind.  "  Yea  the  sparrow 
hath  found  an  house,  and  the  Swallow  a  nest  for  her- 


self, where  she  may  lay  her  young,  even  thine  altars,  O 
Lord  of  hosts,  my  king  and  my  God." 

This  Psalm  is  thought  to  have  been  written  at  the 
time  when  David  was  obliged  to  flee  before  his  unnat- 
ural son  Absalom.  In  this  state  of  exile  from  his  home, 
and  from  the  house  of  God,  he  remembered  that  the  spar- 
rows and  Swallows  were  permitted  to  build  their  nests 
about  the  tabernacle  ;  and  he  seems  to  have  envied  these 
birds  the  privi-lege  of  being  near  that  holy  place,  without 
being  sensible  of  it,  while  he,  notwithstanding  his  ar- 
dent attachmnt  to  that  sanctuary,  was  denied  the  bless- 
ing of  attendig  there. 

Pious  people,  who  are  blessed  with  the  privilege  of 
constantly  attending  worship  at  the  house  of  God,  are 
often  insensible  of  such  a  blessing,  until  they  are  by 
some  means  deprived  of  it.  This  seems,  in  some  degree, 
to  have  been  the  case  with  David,  dm  ing  his  absence, 
for  in  another  verse  he  says,  "  Blessed  are  they  that 
dwell  in  thy  house  ;  they  will  still  be  praising  thee." 

But  the  holy  Psalmist,  because  he  could  not  possess 
all  his  soul  desired,  did  not  therefore  lie  clown  in  forget- 
fulness  of  the  former  mercies  he  had  received  ;  but  while 
he  pleaded  that  God  would  hear  him,  was,  at  the  same 
time,  willing  to  own  his  constant  goodness  and  mercy, 
for  in  the  same  chapter  he  says,  "  0  Lord  God  of  hosts, 
hear  my  prayer,  give  ear  0  God  of  Jacob :  behold,  O 
God  our  shield,  and  look  upon  the  face  of  thine  anoint- 
ed." "  For  the  Lord  God  is  a  sun  and  shield ;  the  Lord 
will  give  grace  and  glory,  no  good  thing  will  he  with- 
hold from  them  that  walk  uprightly." 

In  Jeremiah,  8 ;  7,  there  is  an  allusion  to  the  return  of 
the  Swallow,  after  her  annual  migration  to  the  south  for 
the  winter.  This  shows  that  the  habits  of  this  bird  have 
not  changed,  since  the  days  of  the  prophet,  and  that  they 
were  the  same  at  that  time,  and  in  that  country,  as  they 
are  at  present  in  this,  and  other  countries  ;  for  every 
where  the  Swallow  changes  its  place  of  residence  with 
the  change  of  seasons.  The  verse  is  as  follows:  "  Yea 
the  stork  in  the  heavens  knoweth  her  appointed  time ; 
and  the  turtle,  and  the  crane,  and  the  Swallow  observe 
the  time  of  their  coming;  but  my  people  know  not  the 
judgment  of  the  Lord.'5 

What  a  reproof  this  to  disobedient,  wicked  man.  The 
birds  of  the  air,  by  their  natural  instinct,  are  enabled  to 
know  and  perform  their  duty.  They  go  and  come,  and 
rear  their  young  at  fixed  times  and  places,  and  for  thou- 
sands of  years  have  never  been  known  to  fail  of  doing 
so.  But  man,  notwithstanding  his  accountability  to  God 
for  all  his  actions,  and  after  the  offers  of  mercy  on  the 
one  hand,  and  the  threatenings  of  vengeance  on  the 
other,  still  disobeys  his  Maker.  "  My  people  know  not 
the  judgments  of  the  Lord." 


THE  N  n;  ii  T   ii  \  \v 


T11K  MtJHT  HAWK. 

11  v.  :.t  Hawk  .' 

Tin-  N':jhl  Hawk  is  nine  inches  lung,  Mini  when  the 
win_rs  are  spread,  nearly  two  feet  ine\tenl. 

ril  ? 

Tin-  color  D|'  the   hack,  and  upper   parts,  is  of  a  deep 

lilnrkisli  ITOWII  ;  on  tin-  WIMITS,  and  about  the  head  and 

polled  with  yellow  ;  the  tail  and  quill 

fealheis  arc  in-aily  black,  with  a    streak  of  white  across 
each. 

What  i*  the  shn<  :lil  Hawk? 

In  shape,  this  hird  is  short  and  thick  ;  the  head  and 
eyes  are  large,  but  the  bill  is  so  short  and  small,  as  only 
just  to  reach  beyond  the  head  ;  (he  month  is  very  deep, 
opening  almost  to  the  eyes;  the  legs  are  short,  and 
feathered  to  the  knee. 

•  ••  is)  tins  hird  found  ? 

The  Night  Hawk  is  an  inhabitant  of  al!  parts  of  the 
1  inted  Stales,  an. I  n  well  known  from  Canada  to 
Florida. 

This  bird,  hy  many,  is  supposed  to  be  the  same  with 
the  whip-poor-will.  But  this  is  a  mistake  ;  for  though 
there  is  a  resemblance  between  the  two  in  appearance, 
in  their  habits  they  differ  materially.  The  whip-poor- 
will  is  M-ni  very  rarely  in  the  day  time,  and  then  only  in 
tlii-  woods,  where  it  tlies  only  a  short  distance,  when 
started,  and  lights  again  suddenly  on  a  rock,  or  fallen 
tree.  It  is  a  bird  of  night,  and  docs  not  fly  about  in  the 
day  time.  The  Night  Hawk,  though  most  commonly 
seen  at  the-  dusk  of  evening,  is  not  so  far  a  night  hird  as 
to  he  unable  to  fly  in  the  day  time,  but  is  often  seen  al 
noon  day,  flying  slowly  along  high  in  the  air. 

There  is  also  a  difference  which  will  distinguish  these 

two  birds  at  once,   when  taken.     The  whip-poor-will 

has  a  kind  of  beard,  consisting  of  many  long  hairs,  which 

grow  out  of  the   in>idi;  of  the   upper  mandible.     The 

it  Hawk  has  nothing  of  this  kind. 

The  Night  Hawk  is  a  bird  of  very  peculiar  manners 
and  habits,  and  on  these  accounts  is  easily  known  from 
the  other  fowls  of  the  air. 

They  are  birds  of  passage,  and  commonly  appear  in 
New  England  about  the  beginning  of  May.  They  are 
then  seen  only  in  the  evening,  flying  high  in  the  air, 


and  apparently  piirsinni;  (heir  piey,  which  consifitl  of 
insects. 

Sometime  in  May,  the  |,  male  lays  her  eggs  ;  but  con- 
lrar\   to  the  pmcti.-.-  of  neaily  evciy  other  l.md  hird,  the 
lakes  no  trouble  iibont  a  ne-i,  and  deposits  them  mi  the 
j round,  or  on  a  solid  rock. 

Such  conduct  might  seem  to  show  a  want  of  common 
sense,  or  of  proper  care  for  her  fuiine  brood.  Hut  in. 
•I  of  this,  it  displays  in  this  bud  an  uncommon 
degree  of  sagacity.  The  spot  on  which  the, eggs  are 
laid  is  always  dry,  and  a  little  higher  than  the  ground 
around  it,  so  that  in  case  of  rain,  ihe\  may  not  be  cov- 
ered by  the  water. 

The  place  seems  also  to  be  selected  with  reference  to 
the  color  of  the  bird,  and  of  her  e^s.  Tin;  bird  is  dark, 
spotted  with  yellow,  so  that  a  few  -tii  ksor  leaves  around 
her,  would  make  the  whole  appear  much  of  the  same 
color.  The  eggs  are  green,  spotted  ui(^  black,  and  ran 
hardly  be  distinguished  from  the  ground  on  which  they 
lie,  at  a  yard's  distance.  Indeed,  the  place  is  chosen 
with  so  much  judgment,  and  the  deception  so  complete, 
that  it  is  not  uncommon,  when  OIK-  is  walking  near  her 
nest,  to  be  startled  by  her  flying  up  from  almost  under 
his  feel,  without  his  having  before  discovered  that  any 
living  creature  was  near  him.  Sb  to  be  a\\ 

that  her  nest  is  less  likely  to  be  found  if  she  sits  still, 
than  if  she  flies  away ;  and  hence,  although  al  other 
times  a  wild  bird,  will  remain  on  it,  until  nearly  in  dan- 
ger of  being  trodden  under  foot. 

When  obliged  to  fly,  her  sagacity  is  still  striking,  and 
often  effectual  in  saving  her  eggs.  Instead  of  darting 
away  like  moat  other  birds,  she  acts  as  though  she  could 
neither  fly  nor  run,  but  tumbles  and  rolls  along  within  a 
yard  or  two  of  the  person,  and  pretends  that  this  is  the 
best  she  can  do.  One  not  acquainted  with  the  decep- 
tion, will  run  after  the  bird,  not  doubting  but  he  can 
catch  her  in  a  moment ;  but  she  takes  care  to  just  keep 
out  of  his  way,  until  she  leads  him  a  good  distance  from 
the  nest,  when  she  takes  wing,  and  in  a  iimm, -ni  is  out  of 
sight.  The  attention  of  the  person  is  so  taken  with  the 
bird,  that  he  seldom  thinks  of  the  egg*  until  she  is  out 
of  sight,  and  then  it  is  too  late,  for  he  miL'bl  search  for 
hours,  and  then  only  find  them,  when  they  \\-,  re  crushed 
under  his  feet. 

The  young  birds,  when  hatched,  are  not  more  easily 
seen  than  the  eggs,  or  the  old  one.  They  are  covered 
with  down  of  a  pale  hrowirsh  color,  and  look  so  much 
like  a  little. clod  of  mouldy  dirt,  that  a  person  would 
never  suspect  that  they  were  living  creatures,  until  he 
touched  them. 

Perhaps  there  is  not  a  more  striking  instance  of  (he 
effect  of  instinct  in  protecting  ils  possessor  from  hnrm,  in 
the  whole  feathered  creation,  than  is  displayed  by  this 


24 


THE    SPARROW. 


bird  ;  and  it  is  doubted  whether  even  man  himself,  under 
the  *ame  circumstances,  could  point  out  any  surer  means 
of  effecting  the  same  end. 

Having  no  arms  with  which  to  protect  itself,  and  being 
destined  by  nature  to  lay  on  the  ground,  this  bird,  as 
well  as  her  eggs,  would  be  peculiarly  exposed  to  destruc- 
tion, did  she.  not  make  use  of  all  the  means  in  her  power 
to  prevent  it. 

Birds,  as  well  as  other  animals,  are  taught  by  the  God 
of  Nature^  to  take  care  of  their  young  ;  and  as  one  means 
of  protection,  they  are  taught  by  instinct,  where  and  how 
to  build  their  nests,  so  as  to  make  them  as  safe  from  the 
approach  of  man  and  other  animals  as  possible. 

The  place  where  the  nest  is  built,  and  the  manner  of 
its  construction,  seem,  however,  always  to  depend  on  the 
other  habits  of  the  bird.  Thus  the  marten,  by  its  inno- 
cence and  familiarity,  so  attaches  itself  to  man,  as  to  be 
safe  in  building^ibout  houses,  and  in  cities  ;  but  birds 
which  are  less  agreeable  and  more  mischievous,  are  obli- 
ged to  retire  into  the  woods,  and  rear  their  young  out  of 
the  way  of  man.  Some  build  in  the  tops  of  the  tallest 
trees,  where  it  is  difficult  for  man,  or  other  animals,  to 
climb  to  them ;  others  lay  their  eggs  in  hollow  trees  ; 
others  conceal  their  nests  so  that  there  is  little  probabil- 
ity of  their  being  found,  and  others  again  hang  them  at 
the  end  of  a  small  twig  on  a  tall  tree.  In  all  these  cases, 
there  is  evidently  a  plan  to  keep  the  eggs  and  young,  as 
much  as  possible,  out  of  the  way  of  danger.  But  the 
Night  Hawk  makes  use  of  a  plan  quite  different  from  any 
of  these.  Her  feet  are  not  made  for  perching  on  the 
limbs  of  trees,  nor  are  her  habits  such  as  to  admit  of  her 
seeking  refuge  among  men.  She  is  destined  to  lay  upon 
the  ground,  and  she  takes  the  very  best  means  in  her 
power  to  protect  herself  and  her  eggs  in  such  a  situation. 
She  seems  to  be  perfectly  aware  that  her  color  is  her 
best  protection,  if  she  makes  a  proper  use  of  it,  and  hence 
she  lays  and  hatches  her  eggs  in  a  place,  the  color  of 
which  is  so  much  like  her  own,  that  the  difference  can- 
not easily  be  distinguished,  so  that  she  may  sit  plain  in 
sight,  and  still  not  be  seen. 

In  thus  giving  the  fowls  of  the  air  the  capacity  of 
adapting  themselves  to  their  several  situations,  and  of 
protecting  themselves  and  their  progeny  from  destruc- 
tion, the  wisdom  and  goodness  of  the  Creator  are  plainly 
manifest.  Did  they  not  possess  this  power,  some  kinds 
would  soon  be  entirely  destroyed,  and  thus  the  design  for 
which  they"  were  created  never  be  fulfilled. 

That  the  Creator  has  condescended  to  endow  the  birds 
of  the  air  with  such  striking  qualities,  ought  to  operate 
as  a  convincing  proof  on  our  minds,  that  he  is  every 
where,  and  at  all  times  present,  and  that  he  guides,  di- 
rects and  governs  all  parts  of  his  creation. 

The  actions  of  this  bird,  as  seen  in  the  air;  are  very 


singular,  and  it  is  impossible  so  say  for  what  purpose  he 
behaves  in  such  a  manner. 

At  evening  he  may  be  seen,  particularly  over  rivers, 
or  marshy  places,  mounted  very  high  over  head,  flying, 
first  with  several  quick  motions  of  the  wings,  and  then 
with  a  few  slow  ones,  then  with  the  quick  motions  again, 
and  so  alternately.  At  the  same  time  he  keeps  going  up 
higher  and  higher,  now  and  then  uttering  a  harsh  peep- 
ing sound,  which  may  often  be  heard  when  the  bird  is 
not  seen.  Having  arrived  at  the  highest  pitch,  he  in- 
stantly turns  head  downwards,  and  descends  with  great 
rapidity,  nearly  to  the  ground,  when  he  wheels  suddenly 
up  again,  at  the  same  time  turning  the  points  of  his  wings 
downwards,  in  form  of  the  new  moon,  and  making  a  noise 
resembling  that  produced  by  blowing  strongly  into  the 
bung  of  an  empty  hogshead.  He  then  ascends  upward, 
with  the  usual  slow  and  quick  motions  of  his  wings,  and 
then  down  again  as  before. 

The  female  makes  the  harsh  peeping  noise  in  the  same 
manner  with  the  male  :  she  also  flies  with  the  same 
alternate  slow  and  quick  motions  of  the  wings,  but 
never  like  him  precipitates  herself  in  the  manner  above 
described. 


THE  SPARROW. 

The  Sparrftw  kind  have  short  bills,  which  are  large  at 
)  the  root,  and  sharp  pointed.  They  live  chiefly  on  seeds 
,  and  insects — are  generally  small  in  size,  but  very  active. 

To  this  tribe  belong  the  Canary  bird,  the  Gold  Finch, 

the  House  Sparrow,  and  many  others. 


THE  HOUSE  SPARROW. 
How  large  is  the  House  Sparrow  ? 

The  House  Sparrow  is  a  little  more  then  five  inches 
<J  long,  and  about  eight  inches  in  extent  with  the  wings 
j  spread. 

)         What  color  is  this  bird  ? 

)  Its  color,  over  the  eyes,  and  about  the  chin,  is  whitish  ; 
crown  of  the  head,  and  down  the  neck,  chestnut  brown  ; 
breast  and  sides  of  the  neck,  pale  ash  color ;  the  bill  in 
winter  is  black,  but  in  summer  the  lower  mandible  is 
ash  colored ;  the  back  is  spotted  with  black  and  chestnut ; 
wings  black,  edged  with  chestnut;  tail  nearly  black, 
edged  with  yellow. 

Where  is  this  Sparrow  found .' 


T  II  E    CANARY    BIRD. 


This  little  bird  is  found  in  eveiy  pail  of  tin-  I'nited 
Stales,  anil  in  most  pails  of  Europe. 

I'lii*  Spariou  is  generally  known  in  this  comitiy.  by 
tin-  name  of  clii]>i>in-r  Innl.  It  is  by  habit  so  lame  and 
familiar,  as  frequently  i<>  come  mlo  the  jard.  anil  if  well 
treatcil,  will  Imp  about  the  door,  a  nil  pick  lip  (In-  ci  limb-. 
K\ery  child  is  aci|iiainle(l  v\ilh  ibis  innocent  little  bird. 
Some  chiltlrrn  1o\e  to  ft ed  it.  and  if  llie\  \\ill  do  this 
every  day,  it  will  become  HO  lame  as  to  come  mlo  the 
house  alter  us  meal  of  bread  crumbs. 

Tin-  sociable  and  familiar  habits  of  this  bird  continue 
only  during  the  summer  season.  In  the  fall  it  is  not  se.-n 
about  houses,  bill  goes  away  into  ihe  fields  iind  bed 
where  it  >>titys  until  tin-  approach  of  winter,  when  H  de- 
part* to  the  south  to  find  a  warmer  climate.  The  House 
Sparrow  builds  her  ne-t  m  -..me  thick  luir-h,  often  near 
the  house,  preferring' the  cedar  bush  to  all  others.  The 
ne^i  i-  made  of  dry  urass,  and  lined  with  hair,  \\hich  it 
Costa  her  a  Lrreat  deal  of  labor  to  pick  up. 

For  a  day  or  two  after  the  voting  birds  are  hatched, 
they  are  so  small  and  weak,  ns  not  to  be  able  to  cat  any 
food,  but  after  this  they  begin  to  chirp,  and  open  their 
mouths  ;  when  the  mother  flies  away,  and  brings  them 
some  small  worms,  which  are  their  first  nourishment. 
From  lliis  time  she  continues  to  fe<  d  them  once  in  half 
an  hour,  or  oftencr,  during  the  day,  until  they  are  able 
to  take  care  of  theniM  1\  es.  While  the  parents  are  gone 
after  provision,  the  young  birds  lie  perfectly  still,  and 
seem  to  sleep,  not  making  the  slightest  noise  until  she 
returns.  When  she  arrives  with  ihe  food,  she  wakes 
them  up  by  a  chirp,  which  they  answer,  and  instantly 
hold  up  their  heads,  and  open  iheii  mouths  to  receive  it. 
The  old  bird  takes  care  to  feed  them  all  in  turn,  never 
'ecting  one  and  giving  the  othei  too  much. 

When  the  young  birds  are  so  strong  as  to  be  fitted  for  a 
short  flight,  the  old  ones,  on  a  fair  day,  lead  them  a  little 
distance  from  the  nest,  taking  care  that  they  do  not  go 
so  far  as  to  be  unable  to  return.  At  this  lime  they  are 
fed  ns  usual,  setting  on  the  bush,  or  ground.  But  as  eoon 
as  they  are  able  to  fly  and  catch  insects  for  themselves, 
the  parents  fuixtke  them  entirely,  and  never  aftei  wards 
pay  them  any  further  attention. 

These  birds  were  well  known  to  the  Israelites ; — were 
considered  clean  by  the  Levitical  law,  and  hence  were 
bought  and  sold  as  an  article  of  food. 

In  the  New  Testament,  the  Sparrow  is  sr\eral  times 
mentioned.  In  the  twelfth  chapter  of  Luke.it  is  spoken 
of  in  allusion  to  the  care  which  God  takes  of  all  his 
woiks.  "  Are  not  five  Sparrows  sold  for  two  farthings  ; 
and  not  one  of  them  is  forgotten  before  Ciod  ?  Hut  evm 
the  very  hairs  of  your  head  are  all  numbered.  Fear  not, 
therefore,  ye  are  of  more  value  than  many  Sparrow*." 
Verses  6,  7. 

5 


The^e  are  the  words  of  our  Saviour  to  his  di-ripl.  ft, 
He  wa-j  warning  them  against  indulging  in  too  much 
anxiety  about  the  things  of  this  world:  ami  to  assme 
them  of  the  care  anil  protection  of  their  Creator,  In 
reminds  them  (hat  the  smallest  and  meanest  of  his  works 
an-  not  fniMotteii,  and  that  even  the  Sparrow  is  not  be - 
Heath  bis  not 

II  (iod,  then,  extends  his  protect inir  care  towald  the 
smallest  and  most  perishable  of  his  creature*,  how  much 
more  shall  man,  the  noblest  work  of  his  Lands,  be  the 
object  of  his  peculiar  blessing.  "  Fear  not,  therefore,  ye 
are  of  more  value  than  many  Sparrows." 

\V  i.it  could  give  a  more  sublime  and  striking  idea  of 
the  power  and  extent  of  God's  providence,  thnn  the 
thought,  that  he  is  able  to  watch  over  every  part  of  his 
creation,  however  small,  and  in  our  view  insignificant. 
Thus  every  bird  which  flies,  every  Quadruped  which 
walk.-,  and  every  fish  which  swims,  in  Ate  whole  woild, 
are  under  his  constant  and  immediate  notice.  Not  a 
single  Sparrow  is  forgotten  before  God. 

How  careful,  then,  ought  we  to  be,  who  are  the  only 
accountable  beings  on  earth,  lest  we  should  offend  this 
great  and  good  Creator,  by  sinning  against  him,  and  thus 
bringing  down  on  ourselves  his  holy  indignation. 


THE  CANARY  BIRD. 

The  Canary  Bird  came  originally  from  the  Canniy 
Islands,  as  its  name  indicates. 

It  is  also  a  native  inhabitant  of  Italy  and  Greece  ;  bul 
for  neaily  two  hundred  years,  it  has  been  bred  in  oilier 
parts  of  Europe,  and  more  lately  in  America. 

For  along  period,  these  birds  were  bred  only  in  Ger- 
many, but  were  sent  into  all  parts  of  Europe  for  sale. 
Within  the  lasl  hundred  years,  they  were  so  uncommon 
and  expensive,  that  they  were  kept  only  by  piinces  and 
people  of  wealth.  At  the  present  day,  these  buds  are 
raised  in  most  of  our  large  cities,  b\  persons  who  follow 
the  business  of  selling  bird*  ;  rind  are  sold  at  modeiate. 
prices. 

In  its  native  island,  where  the  Canary  Bird  i*  still  found 
wild,  its  color  is  of  a  dusky  green.  But  the  tame  ones, 
like  all  other  domestic  animals,  are  of  various  colors. 
Most  commonly  they  rir>-  »ome  shade  of  vellow,  but  some 
are  grey,  others  while,  and  others  beautifully  shaded 


26 


THE    CANARY    BIRD. 


with  green.     But  they  are  more  esteemed  for  their  note 
than  their  color. 

The  common  practice  of  keeping  these  birds  in  our 
houses,  as  things  of  amusement,  has  made  the  demand 
for  them  considerable,  so  that  great  numbers  are  raised 
and  sold  every  year.  Some  account  of  the  manner  of 
rearing  them,  may  therefore  be  interesting  to  the  readei. 

In  selecting  a  bird,  those  are  best  which  stand  upright 
on  the  perch,  appear  bold  and  lively,  and  are  not  fright- 
ened at  every  noise  they  hear,  and  at  every  thing  they 
see.  If  its  eyes  are  bright  and  cheerful,  it  is  a  sign  of 
health,  but  if  it  keeps  its  head  under  the  wing,  it  is  droop- 
ing and  sickly.  Its  song  should  also  be  particularly 
noticed,  for  there  is  much  difference  in  this  respect :  but 
as  it  often  depends  on  the  peculiar  taste  of  the  purchaser, 
no  directions  can  be  given  as  to  this  qualification. 

Canary  birds  sometimes  hatch  their  young  every  monih 
in  the  year,  but'more  commonly  they  breed  only  in  the 
spring,  summer  and  fall  months. 

In  Germany,  they  prepare  a  large  and  expensive 
aviary, or  place  in  which  they  rear  their  young.  This  is 
built  like  a  barn,  only  that  it  is  longer  in  one  direction 
than  in  the  other.  At  each  end  it  is  divided  off  by  a 
partition,  making  a  square  room.  In  each  of  these  rooms 
they  plant  several  trees,  the  partitions  having  large  win- 
dows through  them,  so  that  the  birds  can  pass  from  these 
rooms  into  the  large  room  in  the  middle.  The  windows 
of  these  end  rooms  are  made  of  wire,  so  as  to  admit  the 
air  and  light,  and  still  keep  the  birds  from  flying  away. 
The  ground,  or  floor,  of  these  end  rooms,  they  strew 
with  chick-weed,  and  several  kinds  of  seeds  for  them  to 
eat.  Here  the  birds  take  great  delight  in  hopping  about 
among  the  branches  and  leaves  of  the  trees,  and  enjoy- 
ing the  air,  and  the  songs  of  each  other.  In  the  middle 
room  they  place  all  sorts  of  materials,  of  which  these 
little  songsters  build  their  nests,  such  as  fine  hay,  hair 
and  cotton.  In  this  room,  also,  they  construct  places  like 
pigeon  holes,  for  them  to  build  in,  each  bird  having  a 
separate  apartment,  in  which  she  rears  her  young.  From 
this  place  the  light  is  excluded,  as  they  are  fond  of  a 
gloomy  place  while  they  aie  sitting. 

After  Ihe  young  are  hatched,  the  old  ones  are  fed  with 
soft  food,  such  as  cabbage,  lettuce  and  chick-weed,  and 
on  these  delicacies  they  feed  their  young.  When  the 
young  birds  can  feed  themselves,  they  are  taken  out  of 
the  nest,  and  placed  in  cages  away  from  the  parents, 
and  are  here  fed  on  a  composition  made  of  the  yolks  of 
eggs  boiled  hard,  and  mixed  with  a  little  scalded  rape- 
seed,  and  crumbs  of  bread.  This  is  all  beaten  up  to- 
gether, and  furnished  fresh  every  day. 

In  respect  to  the  notes  of  these  birds,  there  is  much 
difference.  Some  of  tlhem  will  have  very  fine  notes 
when  taken  young  and  bred  up  alone.  If  the  song  is 


not  fine,  they  can  be  educated  by  being  placed  with 
another  which  is  a  good  singer.  They  catch  the  tones 
of  other  kindred  songsters  with  considerable  facility,  and 
hence  among  the  best  singers,  there  'u  a  material  differ- 
ence in  the  song,  depending  on  ihe  bird  with  which  they 
have  been  educated.  In  some  countries  they  employ 
the  nightingale  as  master  musician  to  the  whole  flock  of 
Canaries,  and  it  is  this  which  gives  some  foreign  birds,  a 
different  tone  of  voice  from  those  bred  in  this  country. 

These  little  birds  are  exceedingly  timid,  and  some  of 
them  are  so  sensitive,  as  to  fall  down  and  appear  as  if 
dead,  when  frightened.  Dr.  Darwin  relates  an  anec- 
dote of  one  which  used  to  faint  away  when  its  cage  was 
cleaned. 

Being  at  a  friend's  house  where  a  Canary  bird  was 
kept, he  was  told  that  it  always  fainted  away  every  lime 
its  cage  was  cleaned.  The  Dr.  desired  to  see  the  exper- 
iment. The  cage  being  taken  down,  and  the  bottom 
drawn  out,  the  bird  began  to  tremble,  and  turned  white 
about  the  root  of  the  bill.  Soon  after,  it  opened  its 
mouth,  as  if  for  bre.ith,  and  breathed  quick  ;  it  then 
stood  up  on  the  perch,  hung  down  its  wings,  spread  its 
tail,  closed  its  eyes,  and  appeared  quite  stiff  and  motion- 
less for  nearly  half  an  hour.  It  then,  with  much  trem- 
bling and  panting,  gradually  came  to  itself  again.  Sim- 
ilar instances,  it  is  believed,  are  not  uncommon. 

The  following  anecdote  is  taken  from  Mr.  Bingley's 
Animal  Biography,  and  serves  to  show  how  much  so 
simple  an  animal  as  the  Canaiy  Bird,  can  be  taught  by 
time  and  perseverance. 

In  the  month  of  May,  1820,  says  Mr.  Bingley,  a 
Frenchman,  named  Dujoji,  exhibited  in  London  twenty- 
four  Canary  Birds,  some  of  which,  he  said,  were  from 
eighteen  to  twenty-five  years  old.  These  birds  perform- 
ed some  very  extraordinary  feats  at  the  command  of 
their  master. 

Some  of  them  would  balance  themselves  on  a  table, 
with  their  heads  downwards,  and  their  tails  and  feet  in 
the  air,  standing  on  their  shoulders.  One  of  them  took 
hold  of  a  stick,  with  his  claws,  and  holding  on,  suffered 
himself  to  be  turned  around,  as  if  in  the  act  of  being 
roasted.  Another  balanced  itself  on  a  string,  and  swung 
backwards  and  forwards,  as  mountebanks  do  on  a  slack 
rope.  A  third  was  dressed  in  military  uniform,  having 
a  cap  on  its  head,  wearing  a  sword  and  ammunition  box 
by  its  side,  and  carrying  a  gun  in  one  claw  :  after  sitting 
or  standing  upright  for  some  time,  this  bird,  at  the  word 
of  command,  threw  off  its  military  dress,  without  help, 
and  then  flew  to  its  cage.  A  fourth  suffered  itself  to  be 
shot  at,  and  falling  down,  as  if  dead,  was  put  into  a  little 
wheelbarrow,  and  wheeled  away  by  one  of  the  other 
birds. 

How  the  Frenchman  contrived  to  make  his  birds  per- 


TIM:    PIGEON 


form  Midi  singular  tricks,  is  unknown.     Hut  it  isceriam 

that  their  iMliir;ilion  must  have  msl  lulu  much  lime,  labor 
and  url,  wlndi  miirht  have  been  spent  for  a  nobler  and 
better  pmpnse. 


TIIK 


Pigeon  tribe   is  quite  numerous,  for  to  this  family 
belong  the  Doves,  as  well  as  tin-  -e\  era  I  kinds  of  Pigeons. 
Some  of  lliis  tribe  are  to  lie  found  in  al  .....  .si  every  part  of 

the  world.  Their  food  is  grain,  and  the  seeds  of  plants. 
The  female  |a\s  tw.i.  •!_"_'*,  and  ll.r  young  are  coluinoiily 
brother  and  sister.  In  the  wild  slate,  they  <renerally 
hatdi  only  once  or  l\v  .r,  but  (he  I  ame  ones,  when 

well  fed,  produce  their  young  every  month. 

Both  in.  iltr  and  female  a-Mst  in  liMtchini:  and  feeding 
their  youiiLT.  While  siitina,  they  associate  in  pairs,  are 
very  loud  of  each  other,  and  do  not  at  this  time  associate 
with  other-.  They  lake  turns  in  smiii";  on  (hi-  eggs,  and 
when  (he  female  slays  away  loo  IOIIL;,  the  male  goes  out 
in  search  of  her,  and  drives  her  home. 

The  tir-t  fond  of  the  young  Pigeon  is  asoft  white  sub- 
stance,  which  is  formed  in  the  crops  of  the  parents,  and 
which  is  thrown  np  and  put  into  their  mouths.  During 
the  first  few  days,  this  white  substance  is  unmixed  with 
any  thin-:  else  ;  but  after  a  few  days,  n  little  of  the  food 
of  the  parent  bird  is  given  with  it.  Gradually  and  from 
day  to  day,  as  ihe  young  birds  can  bear  more  hearty  food, 
the  old  ones  give  them  less  of  the  while  substance,  and 
more  of  their  own  fond,  so  that  after  about  nine  days,  no 
more  of  the  white  substance  is  given. 

This  is  a  sitiirular  and  wonderful  provision  of  the  Cre- 
ator, and  seems  to  be  designed  to  answer  the  same  pur- 
pose to  the  young  birds,  that  milk  does  to  young  quad- 
rupeds. In  both  cases,  nature  provides  suitable  nourish- 
ment for  the  young,  until  they  are  aide  to  take  more  solid 
and  common  fo.nl. 

Why  the  Pigeon  should  require  such  an  especial  pro- 
vision more  than  any  other  bird,  is  unknown,  but  this 
peculiarity  is  common  to  all  this  iribe. 


THE  PASSENGER  Pitil.nV 


I  low  large  i«  the  PtMrnprr  Pi*.- 

The  Passenger  Piyeon  is  sivd -en  inrlies  long,  and  two 
feet  in  extent,  with  Us  \\  mi's  -.p,. 
•  i.  tin-  *) 

lii  shape,  (his  bird  is  uncommonh  elegant.  Through 
the  breast  it  is  plump  and  full;  the  n.  ,  k  is  moderately 
long,  and  ihe  head  quite  small  ;  the  upper  mandible  is 
a  little  curved  at  the  end  ;  the  legs  are  .short,  and  feath- 
ered to  the  knee;  anil  the  tail  is  neaily  as  long  as  the 
body. 

Wli.it  is  (In-  n.lur  <il  this  I'i^oon  1 

Iii  thi' beautiful  shades  of  color,  few  birds  exceed  this. 
The  bill  is  black  ;  the  eyes  rrd  ;  the  head  nnd  upper  part 
of  the  neck,  fine  slate  blue;  i!ie  breast  and  throat  orange 
red  ;  the  upper  part  of  the  neck,  and  down  the  back, 
changeable  green,  purple  and  gold  ;  ihe  under  part,  pale 
orange,  fading  into  white  ;  quill  feathers  dark,  and  feet 
and  legs,  n  d. 

Where  is  this  bird  (mind  .' 

The  Passenger  Pigeon  is  found  in  almost  every  part  of 
North  America.  This  bird  is  generally  known  under  the 
name  of  Wild  Pigeon,  and  there  is  hardly  a  person  in 
our  country,  who  has  not  seen  it,  either  in  the  air, at  the 
market,  or  on  the  table. 

The  greatest  peculiarity  concerning  these  birds,  is  their 
habit  of  assembling  together  in  such  vast  multitudes,  as 
lo  render  the  accounts  of  them  beyond  all  belief,  were 
they  not  confirmed  by  the  best  authority. 

They  pass  from  one  part  of  the  country  to  another  in 
immense  flocks,  and  hence  the  name,  Passenger  Pigeon. 

These  short  migrations  are  not  undertaken  merely  for 
the  purpose  of  finding  a  warmer  or  a  colder  climate,  like 
those  of  the  common  birds  of  passage,  but  for  the  pur- 
pose of  obtaining  food,  for  the  support  of  their  immense 
numbers. 

The  following  account  of  their  migrations,  the  sub- 
stance of  which  is  taken  from  Wilson's  Ornithology,  may 
be  relied  on  as  true,  howevei  incredible  it  may  seem,  for 
that  irentleman  either  saw  what  he  describes  himself,  or 
had  his  statements  from  the  best  authority. 

Mr.  Wilson  slates,  that  he  had  seen  immense  (lights 
of  these  birds  m  Pennsylvania  and  Viiginia,  but  that 
these  were  mere  straggling  parlies,  when  compared  with 
the  Congregated  millions  which  he  beheld  afterwards,  in 
Ohio,  Kentucky  and  Indiana.  The  feinle  in 

these  .slates  abound  with  beech  mils,  \\  Inch  are  the  prin- 
cipal food  of  the  wild  Pigeon.  When  these  mils  are 
consumed  in  one  place,  lbe\  discover  another  supply, 
often  at  the  distan.e  i.|  ->  veniy  or  eighty  miles,  audio 
this  place  (bey  regularly  fly  every  morning,  and  re- 
turn again  in  ihe  course  ol  ihe  day.  to  some  place  which 
appears  to  have  been  aL'i' rd  on  amoiiL'  ihemsrl ves,  and 
where  they  spend  the  niL'hl. 

4'hese  places  are  always  in  ihe  woods,  and  sometimes 


28 


THE    PIGEON. 


occupy  a  large  extent  of  forest.  Such  places,  after  being 
occupied  for  many  nights  by  the  Pigeons,  present  a  very 
curious  and  surprising  appearance.  The  surface  of  the 
ground  is  every  where  strewed  with  the  large  branches 
of  trees,  which  have  been  broken  down  by  the  weight 
of  the  birds.  All  the  tender  grass  and  underwood  is 
destroyed,  and  the  large  trees  themselves  are  as  com- 
pletely killed  as  if  they  had  been  girdled  with  an  axe. 
Sometimes,  for  thousands  of  acres  in  extent,  this  destruc- 
tion is  as  complete,  as  it  would  have  been,  had.it  been 
burned  over,  and  the  marks  of  it  remain  for  many  years 
afterwards. 

When  an  encampment  of  this  kind  is  discovered,  the 
news  is  spread  abroad,  and  the  people  come  from  vari- 
ous distances,  with  guns,  long  poles,  and  other  means  of 
destruction,  and  attack  the  poor  birds  on  all  sides.  These 
attacks  are  made  in  the  night,  when  the  birds  can  see 
nothing,  and  consequently  cannot  take  any  means  to 
avoid  destruction.  In  athort  time,  thousands  are  killed, 
so  that  these  hunters  fill  their  sacks,  and  load  their  horses 
and  wagons,  and  are  ready  by  morning  to  go  off  with 
their  booty. 

Accounts  of  the  places  where  these  birds  build  their 
nests,  and  hatch  their  young,  are  still  more  extraordi- 
nary. 

In  the  States  above  mentioned,  places  of  this  kind  pre- 
sent the  most  novel  and  curious  appearances.  The  nests 
are  built  on  the  trees  of  the  forest,  and  nearly  every  tree 
is  occupied  with  a  greater  or  less  number,  through  a 
large  extent  of  country. 

In  the  State  of  Kentucky,  some  years  ago,  one  of 
these  nestling  places  extended  through  the  woods,  it  was 
said,  to  the  distance  of  forty  miles, in  a  straight  line,  and 
was  generally  several  miles  wide.  In  this  tract,  nearly 
every  tree  contained  as  many  nests  as  the  branches  could 
accommodate. 

As  soon  as  the  young  were  fully  grown,  the  people 
caine  from  all  parts  of  the  country,  with  wagons,  axes, 
beds,  cooking  vessels,  and  some  of  them  with  their  whole 
families,  and  encamped  around  this  vast  nursery,  where 
they  lived  on  the  young  Pigeons,  and  carried  away  as 
many  as  they  wanted. 

Such  was  the  noise  made  by  this  vast  multitude,  that 
the  horses  were  terrified,  the  people  were  astonished,  and 
no  person  could  hear  another  speak,  without  bawling  in 
his  ear.  The  top  of  every  tree  presented  a  tumult  of 
Pigeons,  crowding  about  their  young,  and  fluttering  with 
their  wings,  so  as  to  produce  a  perpetual  roar  like  that  of 
thunder.  Mingled  with  this,  was  the  frequent  crash  of 
falling  trees,  for  the  people  cut  down  such  as  contained 
the  greatest  number  of  nests,  so  as  the  more  readily  to 
come  at  the  young  ones.  Sometimes  one  tree  in  its  fall, 
would  sweep  two  or  three  smaller  ones  along  with  it,  so 


that  the  cutting  down  a  single  tree  would  often  produce 
two  hundred  Pigeons.  Only  the  young  ones  were  sought 
for,  but  these  were  almost  as  large  as  their  parents,  and 
almost  one  mass  of  fat. 

Some  trees  contained  more  than  one  hundred  nests, 
and  it  was  dangerous  to  walk  under  them,  on  account 
of  the  frequent  fall  of  large  branches,  which  were  broken 
off  by  the  combined  weight  of  the  nests  and  Pigeons. 

At  the  time  Mr.  Wilson  was  in  Kentucky,  the  Pigeons 
had  consumed  most  of  the  food  in  that  part  of  the  coun- 
try, and  had  found  another  feeding  place  in  Indiana, 
sixty  or  eighty  miles  distant.  From  one  of  these  places 
to  the  other,  they  were  flying  in  such  vast  numbers,  as  to 
exceed  all  his  belief,  though  he  had  received  the  most 
wonderful  account  of  their  flights  from  the  inhabitants. 

"They  were,"  says  Mr.  Wilson,  "flying  with  great 
steadiness  and  rapidity,  at  a  height  beyond  my  gun-shot, 
in  several  strata  deep,  and  so  close  together,  that  could 
shot  have  reached  them,  one  discharge  could  not  have 
failed  of  bringing  down  several  individuals.  From  right 
to  left  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  the  breadth  of  this 
vast  procession  reached,  seeming  every  where  equally 
crowded.  Curious  to  determine  how  long  this  appear- 
ance would  continue,  I  took  out  my  watch  to  note  the 
time,  and  sat  down  to  observe  them." 

Our  author  goes  on  to  state,  that  for  four  hours  these 
birds  continued  their  flight  in  one  uninterrupted  stream, 
and  that  so  far  from  diminishing  in  numbers,  he  thought 
they  increased. 

He  afterwards  made  an  estimate  of  the  number  of 
Pigeons  which  passed  him  during  the  four  hours.  "  If 
we  suppose  this  column,"  says  he,  "  to  have  been  one 
mile  in  breadth,  (and  I  believe  it  to  have  been  much 
more,)  and  that  it  moved  at  the  rate  of  one  mile  in  a 
minute;  four  hours,  the  time  it  continued  passing,  would 
make  its  whole  length  two  hundred  and  forty  miles. 
Again,  supposing  that  each  square  yard  of  this  moving 
body  comprehended  three  Pigeons  ;  the  square  yards  in 
the  whole  space  multiplied  by  three,  would  give  two 
thousand  two  hundred  and  thirty  millions,  two  hundred 
and  seventy-two  thousand  Pigeons." 

This,  to  be  sure,  is  almost  an  inconceivable  multitude, 
"  but,"  says  the  author,  "  it  is  probably  far  below  the 
actual  amount.  The  quantity  of  beach  nuts,  and  acorns, 
which  this  number  of.Pigeons  would  consume  in  a  day, 
allowing  half  a  pint  for  each,  would  be  upwards  of 
seventeen  millions  of  bushels." 

The  Creator  has  endowed  these  birds  with  a  wonder- 
ful rapidity  of  flight,  so  that  they  are  enabled  to  wander 
over  immense  tracts  of  country  in  a  short  time.  Were 
this  not  the  case,  they  must  starve,  since  no  small  extent 
of  country  could  supply  them  with  food  even  for  a  short 
time. 


T  II  K    PIGEON. 


Mr.  Wilson  esiimaie.-  tlicir  flight  to  be  n  mile  in  a  min- 
ute, iiiid  no  man  was  heller  able  to  judge  on.-nch  a  suit, 
jecl  than  himself.  A  mile  in  a  minute,  would  in 
seven  hundred  and  twenty  nidi  s  ;n  twelve  hours,  or  one 
day,  a  r.ite  of  tra.elm-.:  ahoul  t'-n  Uincsa8greatnstli.it 
at  which  our  mail  coaches  onlmanlv  run.  We  see, 
therefore,  thai  in  tin-  space  of  ;i  few  davs,  these  birds 
could  explore  all  pails  of  our  western  territory  in  search 
of  food. 

In  the  New   Kn^'l mil  Slates,  though  these  birds  n 
appear  in  such   immense  numbers,  -.till    they  are  some- 
times \ery  numerous 

In  Coime, -lii-ut.  and  the  other  Atlantic  States,  great 
numbers  of  lliem  are  every  year  taken  in  what  are 
called  rl<i/>  ni-ts,  and  cairn-d  to  market,  in  all  the  large 
towns.  Many  ]•  lurinsr  the  aiilnmnal  months 

make  it  ibcir  business  to  tend  these  neis,  and  carry  their 
produce  to  maikei.  During  particular  seasons,  l! 
birds  are  caught  in  such  ahundaiire,  that  they  will  sell 
for  only  two  or  tlnee  pence  each.  At  such  times,  they 
are  shut  up  in  coops  and  fattened  on  corn,  and  ki  pi. 
until  they  can  be  sold  for  a  irrraler  price.  By  heiiiLT  fed 
in  this  mamiei,  llicir  lli  sh  is  much  improved,  and  they 
commonly  sell  for  a  price  which  well  repays  for  the 
trouble  and  expense  of  ('aliening  them. 


THE  TURTLE  DOVE, 
lli.w  laruc  a  bird  is  the  Tnrtlt>  Dove  ? 

The  Turlle  Dove  i-  one  foot  long,  and  wilh  the  wings 
spiead,  a  fool  and  u  half  in  extent. 

U  l,.tt  is  the  shape  of  this  bird  ? 

In  shape,  it  very  much  resembles  the  passenger  pi. 
but  is  considerably  smaller. 

Wlitit  is  the  color  "1  I'M-  Turtle  I  - 

In  color  il  also  resembles  tbe  passenger  pigeon,  but  all 

the  tints    ue    paler,    and    its   eyes   arc   black,   instead  of 
being  red,  like  those  of  that  pigeon.      Besides  the  dilig- 
ence in   si/.e,  Us   appearance   is,  then-fore,  considerably 
different  from  that  of  the  pigeon. 
•lii*  bird  found  ? 

The  Turtle  Dove  is  found,  more  or  less  frequently,  in 
all  parts  of  the   United  States;    but   ihe-c  birds  ne\er 


congregate  in  u-n-ai  llocks  like  the  pigeon-.  Sometimes 
they  i  in  small  llocks,  but  much  mon  commonly 

appear  SIIIL'!;  "iiples. 

This  bird  is  known  in  the  southern  slates  undei  tin- 
name  of  Carolina  pigeon,  and  in  New  England,  it  lias 
the  name  of  Mourning  I>o\e,  on  account  of  the  doleful 
sounds  which  it  tin 

"This,"  says  Mr.  Wilson,-  ute  bird  with  those 

who  love  to  wander  among  the  woods  in  the  spring,  and 
listen  to  their  varied  harmony.  They  will  (here  hear 
many  a  ••iniMilar  and  spii^litly  performer,  but  none  so 
inoirnfnl  as  this.  The  hopeless  woe  of  settled  sorrow, 
-wellinir  (he  heart  of  fetnah;  innocence  itself,  could  not 
a>suini>  tones  more  sad,  oi  more  tender  and  aflTecling." 
14  Its  notes  are  lour;  the  firsi  is  somewlint  the  highest, 
and  preparatory,  seeming  to  be  niteied  wilh  an  inspira- 
tion of  the  breath,  as  if  the  afflicted  creature  was  jusl 
recovering  its  \oice  from  (he  last  convulsive  sobs  of  dis- 
tress; this  is  followed  by  three  long,  deep,  and  mournful 
moanings,  that  no  person  of  sensibility  can  listen  to  with- 
out sympathy.  A  pause  of  a  few  moments  ensues ;  and 
again  the  voice  of  sorrow  is  renewed  as  before.1' 

But  these  dob-fill  loiiesare  not  the  notes  of  distress, 
hut  of  afTeriion.  They  are  the  language  of  love  and 
contentment,  which  these  faithful  birds  niter  towards 
each  other. 

Turtle  Doves,  to  a  certain  extent,  are  birds  of  passage. 
They  leave  the  northern  and  middle  states  on  the  ap- 
proach of  winter,  and  retire  to  the  warmer  climate  of  the 
southern  states,  where  ihey  ^pend  the  cold  season,  and 
return  to  the  north  again  in  the  spring. 

These  birds  make  ,1  peculiar  whistling  noise  with  their 
wings  when  they  fly, and  particularly  when  they  rise  and 
light:  and  by  this  they  ma\  always  be  known  from  the 
pigeons.  They  ^it  on  ire.  .  or  on  the  ground,  as 

is  most  convenient, or  as  they  are  invited  by  the  pro?] 
of  food.  They  build  their  nesison  trees,  generally  pre- 
ferring an  everirieen  for  that  purpose.  It  is  composed 
of  a  handful  of  twigs,  laid  together  with  little  art,  and 
lined  on  the  inside  with  dried  roots  and  leaves.  The  eggs 
are  two  in  number,  and  alnn>>i  as  while  as  snow.  Tin- 
two  birds,  like  the  pigeons,  unite  in  feeding  and  taking 

.  •!'  (he   \  ounir. 

The  flesh  of  (his  Dove  is  much  superior  lo  that  of  the 
pigeon;  but  its  gentleness.  MS  innocence  and  beamy, 
together  with  the  lemleine-?  of  iis  notes,  ate  it-  pn.tec- 
lion.  except  wilh  iho-'-  whose  appei'ie*  an-  stronger  than 
their  feelings  of  hiimnnii  \ .  or  .(impassion.  Such  per- 
sons shoot  tin  se  innocent  birds  wbenexer  they  ran  find 
them.  The  attachment  and  fidelity  of  Turtle  Doves  to 
each  other,  has  been  known  and  taken  notice  of  in  nil 
nges,  and  not  nnfreipiently  celebiaied  in  poetiy.  Noi 
is  the  idea  of  ao  uncommon  affection  between  them  ima- 


30 


THE    PIGEON 


ginary,  for  if  a  pair  be  placed  in  a  cage  and  suffered  to 
remain  together  for  a  while,  and  then  one  be  taken  away, 
the  other  will  soon  pine  away  and  die  of  grief. 

A  pair  of  Turtle  Doves  had  been  long  together  in  a 
cage,  when,  during  the  absence  of  one  of  them,  the  other 
was  killed  by  an  unruly  dog.  When  the  other  came 
home,  and  found  that  his  partner  was  gone,  lie  searched 
for  her  in  all  the  places  where  she  might  be  expected  to 
be  found,  but  not  finding  her,  he  came  back  to  the  cage, 
and  there  perched  himself  on  the  feeding  place,  where 
they  usually  sat  together.  Here  he  waited  her  return, 
constantly  moaning  her  absence  for  two  days.  But  being 
disappointed  in  his  hopes  of  seeing  her,  he  after  that 
time  refused  to  take  any  more  food,  and  perpetually 
moaning  his  loss,  gradually  pined  away  and  died  on  the 
spot. 

The  Dove  is  several  times  mentioned  in  the  scriptures, 
and  by  the  Levitical  law  was  not  only  allowed  to  be 
eaten  as  a  clean  bird,  but  was  also,  sometimes,  enjoined 
to  be  used  in  sacrifice.  "  A  Turtle  Dove  and  two  young 
pigeons,"  were  a  part  of  the  offering  which  the  Lord 
directed  Abraham  to  make,  as  preparatory  to  the  revela- 
tion he  made  him  concerning  the  destiny  of  his  poster- 
ity. In  certain  cases  of  sacrifice,  directed  by  the  Levit- 
ical law,  wheie  the  poverty  of  the  person  was  such  as 
not  to  allow  the  use  of  a  more  costly  animal,  Doves  or 
pigeons  were  enjoined.  The  words  are,  "  And  if  she  be 
not  able  to  bring  a  lamb,  then  she  shall  bring  two  Turtle 
Doves,  or  two  young  pigeons ;  the  one  for  a  burnt  offer- 
ing, and  the  other  for  a  sin  offering."  Leviticus,  12;  8. 
We  may  learn  from  this,  that  it  is  not  the  value  or 
largeness  of  the  offering  that  makes  it  acceptable  to  the 
Lord,  but  the  motive  with  which  it  is  made. 

If  presented  with  a  humble  and  willing  mind,  the 
Turtle  Doves,  or  pigeons,  were  just  as  acceptable  in  the 
eye  of  Heaven,  as  the  lamb.  The  two  mites  of  the  poor 
widow,  were  estimated  above  all  the  splendid  offerings 
which  the  rich,  in  their  pride,  were  induced  to  give. 

Let  us,  therefore,  when  we  do  acts  of  charity,  take 
care  that  our  hearts  are  in  the  work,  and  then  we  may 
be  sure  that  the  smallest  gifts  will  be  acceptable  offerings 
before  the  Lord  ;  but  if  we  give  ever  so  much  merely  to 
be  seen  of  men,  our  offerings,  like  that  of  Cain,  will  be 
refused,  and  we  shall  be  guilty  of  hypocrisy  in  his  sight. 
In  the  Book  of  Genesis,  the  Dove  is  mentioned  as  the 
bird,  by  means  of  which  Noah  ascertained  that  the  waters 
of  the  flood  had  abated,  and  that  the  dry  land  had  ap- 
peared. The  raven  whicli  was  first  sent  forth  for  this 
purpose,  did  not  return,  probably  because  that  bird,  which 
feeds  on  flesh,  found  abundance  of  food  in  the  dead  ani- 
mals which  the  waters  had  destroyed.  But  the  clean 
and  delicate  Dove,  whose  food  is  only  the  seeds  of  plants, 
could  find  nothing  to  eat,  nor  any  place  on  which  to  rest 


herself,  and  was  therefore  obliged  to  return  to  the  ark. 
The  account,  as  contained  in  Genesis,  is  too  interesting 
to  be  omitted  here.  After  the  raven  had  returned,  Noah 
"  Also  sent  forth  a  Dove  from  him  to  see  if  the  waters 
were  abated  from  off  the  face  of  the  ground.  But  the 
Dove  found  no  rest  for  the  sole  of  her  foot,  and  she  re- 
turned unto  him  into  the  ark  ;  for  the  waters  were  on  the 
face  of  the  whole  earth.  Then  he  put,  forth  his  hand,  and 
took  her,  and  pulled  her  in  unto  him  into  the  ark.  And 
he  stayed  yet  other  seven  days,  and  again  he  sent  forth 
the  dove  out  of  the  ark.  And  the  dove  came  in  to  him 
in  the  evening,  and,  lo,  in  her  mouth  was  an  olive  leaf 
plucked  off.  So  Noah  knew  that  the  waters  were  abated 
from  off  the  earth."  Genesis,  8;  8-11. 

Among  the  whole  feathered  creation,  there  is  not,  per- 
haps, a  bird  better  fitted  to  perform  such  an  errand  than 
the  Dove.  Her  wings  are  so  long  and  powerful,  that 
she  remains  on  them  for  many  hours  without  tiring,  and 
to  whatever  distance  she  may  go,  she  always  returns 
home  again  at  night. 

The  olive  leaf  which  she  brought  home,  it  appears 
was  not  picked  up  on  the  water,  but  was  plucked  off 
from  a  living  tiee.  This,  then,  was  certain  proof  that 
the  waters  had  not  only  abated,  but  that  within  the  circuit 
which  the  Dove  had  taken,  the  ground  was  left  naked, 
otherwise  she  could  not  have  come  to  the  olive  tree. 

How  cheering  to  Noah  and  his  family  must  have  been 
this  sure  indication,  that  the  waters  of  the  flood  were  re- 
tiring.and  that  after  their  long  confinement,  they  should 
soon  again  behold  the  light  of  the  sun,  and  stand  on  the 
face  of  the  earth.  Hence  it  is,  that  by  all  civilized  na- 
tions, the  olive  branch  has  ever  been  considered  a  token 
of  peace  and  a  harbinger  of  mercy. 

The  Dove  itself,  has,  from  the  first  ages,  been  celebra- 
ted for  its  beauty,  innocence  and  softness  of  manners; 
and  hence  women  of  uncommon  beauty  have  been  named 
after  this  bird.  One  of  the  daughters  of  Job  is  an  in- 
stance. "And  in  all  the  land,  were  no  women  found  so 
fairasthe  daughters  of  Job."  His  eldest  daughter,  there- 
fore, was  called  Jemima,  which  in  the  Arabic  language 
signifies  Dove. 

The  swiftness  and  innocence  of  this  bird,  is  beautifully 
alluded  to  in  the  55th  Psalm.  "Oh,  that  I  had  wings 
like  a  Dove!  for  then  I  would  fly  away  and  be  at  lest ; 
I  would  hasten  my  escape  from  the.  windy  storms  and 
tempests." 

Good  people  are  always  in  pain,  when  (hey  are  obliged 
to  be  in  company  with  the  wicked.  They  desire  to  es- 
cape from  the  windy  storm  and  tempest,  the  boisterous 
riotings  of  evil  men.  Hence  it  is,  that  pious  and  godly 
men,  are  never  seen  in  the  company  of  the  wicked  and 
ungodly,  unless  it  is  for  the  purpose  of  setting  them  a 
good  example,  and  trying  to  make  them  better. 


T  II  K    I1  A  R  K  o  1 


31 


The  Dove  is  m. 'illumed   in  several  other  plao  s  in  the 
holy   scriptures,   !»u    we   can    heir    alliule    to   onh    .me 

men, 

Till-  l.inl,  as  I-  Well  known,  h.>  Seen  ailinireil 

for  it-  innocence,  anil  aiuiiilili-  di-po-mon.     Our  Saviour, 
in  allusion  In  tin-  [tail  "I  its  rhai.irli  r,  makes  H  an  i •\.nn- 

ple  for  imitation  to  his  disciples.     ••;  .isser- 

,  and  a*  IM  inili^-  a-  I  >"\ .  B,'1  WU  an  nn|i»i  I  a  nl  part 
oflhe  duel-linns  which  he  enjoined  mi  lln-ni  In  i>b-'  ,  \ ,-, 
when  ihe\  should  UH  ONI  into  (he  world  in  preach  the 
gospel. 

irr  would  he  impeller!,  willmnl  wisdom 
and  innocence;  lint  wild  lli>  se  two  ipial.lies  combined, 
a  chararler  would  he  funned,  than  which  nothing  in  hu- 
man II  itllie  rollld  he-  more  pcrlerl. 

\Vi-dom  willionl  innocence,  would  qualify  ils  possessor 
to  do  much  evil  in  ihe  world,  liy  impu-mi:  np"ii  others; 
and    l>\   carrying  mlo  elleci  amh,lion>  plans,  to  the 
injury  of  mankind.      Innocence,  withoul  wi-d ,  would 

•  mly   expose  its  possessor  lo   he   cheaied,  and  de- 

!  hv  the  ails  of  designing  men. 
Hul  he  who  has  a  sound  judgment,  and  an  enlightened 

linder-lallilin::,  c limed  With  illtei:ril\  and  belie  Volelice, 

i>   prepared  to  prosecute  the  most  important  '-nd.s  hy  the 

judicious me&nfl.  Such  a  man  would  heliolh  i  n. i- 
liled  and  inclined,  to  prove  all  things,  and  lo  hold  fast 
only  to  that  which  is  good. 


THK  PARROT. 

This  trihe  of  bird-,  are  natives  of  warm  countries. 
They  associate  in  Docks  at  ceiiaia  seasons,  but  live 
clik-lly  m  pan.-,  and  are  e\ce— ively  noisy  and  clamor- 
ous. They  lay  then  eggs  in  hollow  IrefS,  and  the  two 
birds  take  turns  in  silting  on  the  eggs.  The  legs  are 
short,  and  the  toes  are  four  in  iiumher,  of  which  two  are 
set  forward  and  two  backward.  The  bill  is  short  and 
hooked,  and  the  upper,  38  well  as  the  lower  mandible, 
moves.  The  head  i*  larye,  and  the  crown  flat.  They 
live  on  fruits  and  seeds,  which  they  carry  lo  ihe  mouth 
with  one  of  the  claws.  They  assist  themselves  in  climb- 
inir  with  iheir  bills.  Some  of  them  can  be  taught  to 
speak  words. 

Parrot-  seem  lo  hold  ihe  same  place  among  biids,  lhal 
monkeys  d»  ainonir  cpiadrupeds.  Both  are  numerous, 
imitative  and  mischievous. 

The  I.UL'e-i  birds  of  this  kind  are  called  Macaws; 
the  next  size  are  called  Patrols,  and  ihe  smallest, 
Paroquet* 


THK  I:UK,:N  MACAW. 

lln\v  l.ir_-i-  11  tl.r  (Jr.-cn  Macaw  f 

The  Ci.  .  n  M  i,-aw  |,  ;i  fool  and  a  hnlflong,  from  ihe 
head  to  the  end  of  the  tail.  The  tail  is  somewhat  longer 
than  the  body. 

What  n  UK-  n.lor  o(  this  bird  ? 

The  gem-ral  color  of  ihi^  bird  is  green,  as  its  name 
indicates;  its  bill  is  black;  around  the  eyes  it  is  white, 
marked  with  black  lines;  the  forehead  is  chestnut  pur- 
ple, and  the  crown  blue  :  on  the  thighs  the  feathers  are 
red  ;  and  the  wings  are  in  dillerent  parts  crimson,  blue 
and  black. 

\Vhere  is  the  Green  Macaw  found  .' 

The  Green  Macaw  is  found  in  Brazil  and  other  ports 
of  South  America.  The«-e  hinN.  if  properly  treated,  will 
beni  the  cold  of  northern  climates,  but  they  never  mnlii- 
ply  out  of  their  own  country.  They  are  easily  dom-^u- 
caied,  ami  soon  become  familiar  with  (he  family  in  which 
they  are  kepi.  TowanN  stl  .  however,  they  are 

exceedingly  snappish  and  ill-natured. 

The  (MCI  n  M.IC.IW  i>  very  fond  of  the  notice  and  at- 
tention of  ils  mistress,  and  is  highly  offended,  if  -he  pavs 
any  aliention  to  a  child  in  ils  pre-ence.  If  she  takes  ihe 
child  on  her  lap  and  caresses  ii,  the  bird  becomes  out* 
la^'eous,  and  willdait  upnn  and  lute  it,  if  not  prevented. 

From  the  -aine  jealous  di-posiimn,  ibis  bird  cannot 
bear  tin-  presence  of  other  Parrots  ;  but  if  one  be  brought 
into  the  room,  becomes  angry,  and  en|o\  ^  ,,,.  p,  are  until 
il  is  removed. 

This  kind  of  P. mot  i-  exceedingly  noisv  and  mischiev- 
ous. Il  will  leai  ihiiiL's  in  piece-,  luie  -.  and 
-ipiall  in  a  inosl  nnpli  a-.inl  manner.  It  i.s  somelmiex 
laughl  to  speak  words,  but  never  talks  w  ih  ihe  -ame 
facility  that  some  of  the  smaller  kinds  do.  It  is  chiefly 
admired,  therefore,  for  U9  size  and  beauu  . 


32 


THE    PARROT. 


THE  GUINEA  PARROT. 

This  bird  is  called  the  little  red-headed  Parrot,  and  by 
some  the  Guinea  Sparrow.  It  is  among  the  most  beau- 
tiful of  the  Parrot  kind,  and  in  size  not  much  larger  than 
the  lark. 

This  Parrot  is  found  in  Guinea,  Ethiopia,  and  the  East 
Indies,  where  great  flocks  of  them  are  often  seen. 

Its  general  color  is  green  ;  the  bill,  chin  and  forehead 
are  red,  and  the  lower  part  of  the  back  is  blue. 

These  birds  are  exceedingly  kind  and  affectionate 
towards  each  other,  and  it  has  been  observed  that  the 
female  generally  perches  on  the  left  side  of  the  male, 
and  that  she  seldom  attempts  to  eat  before  he  sets  the 
example. 

Mr.  Bingley  relates  that  a  couple  of  these  birds  were 
kept  together  in  a  large  cage,  on  the  bottom  of  which 
their  food  and  drink  were  placed  in  the  usual  manner. 
The  cage  had  several  perches  in  it,  but  the  birds  com- 
monly sat  on  the  same  perch,  and  close  beside  each 
other.  When  one  went  down  fot  food,  the  other  went 
also,  and  when  both  had  satisfied  their  appetites,  they 
returned  together  to  the  highest  perch. 

In  this  manner  they  passed  four  years  in  their  confine- 
ment, and  from  their  attention  to  each  other,  and  their 
apparent  contentment,  it  was  evident  that  a  strong  at- 
tachment existed  between  them. 

At  the  end  of  this  time,  the  female  fell  into  a  state  of 
weakness,  which  had  every  symptom  of  old  age  ;  her 
legs  swelled,  and  knots  appeared  on  them,  as  if  the  dis- 
ease had  been  of  the  gout  kind.  It  was  no  longer  in  her 
power  to  go  down  to  the  bottom  of  the  cage  and  take  her 
food,  as  she  had  always  done  before,  and  the  male  seeing 
this,  kindly  carried  it  up  to  her,  taking  it  in  his  bill,  and 
putting  it  into  her  mouth,  as  she  sat  on  the  perch. 

In  this  way  he  continued  to  feed  her  with  the  greatest 
care  and  attention  for  four  months,  she  never  attempting 
to  come  down  from  her  place.  Her  infirmity,  however, 
increased  every  day,  until  she  was  no  longer  able  to  sit 
there,  but  fell  down  to  the  bottom  of  the  cage.  She 
now,  from  time  to  time,  made  feeble  efforts  to  get  on  the 
lower  perch,  and  in  these  attempts,  the  male  tried  every 
way  in  his  power  to  assist  her.  Sometimes  he  took  hold 
of  the  upper  part  of  her  wing,  and  used  all  his  power  to 
draw  her  up  to  him  on  the  perch,  and  this  not  succeed- 
ing, he  laid  hold  of  her  bill,  and  tried  to  pull  her  up  in 
that  way,  repeating  his  efforts  for  that  purpose  several 
times.  His  countenance,  his  actions,  and  his  continued 
anxiety,  showed  in  this  affectionate  bird,  a  strong  desire 
to  assist  the  weakness  of  his  companion,  and  to  soften  her 
sufferings. 

But  the  scene  became  still  more  interesting  and  touch- 
ing, when  the  female  was  at  the  point  of  death.  Her 


unfortunate  partner  went  round  and  round  her,  without 
stopping;  he  increased  his  attentions,  and  his  tender 
cares,  as  her  weakness  increased  ;  he  tried  to  open  her 
bill  to  give  her  food,  when  she  no  longer  had  power  to 
open  it  herself;  his  grief  seemed  to  increase  every  mo- 
ment ;  he  would  go  to  her,  and  return  again,  without 
doing  any  thing,  because  he  knew  not  what  to  do  :  now 
and  then  he  uttered  the  most  pitiful  cries,  and  at  other 
times  he  stood  with  his  eyes  fixed  on  her  in  sorrowful 
silence. 

At  last  the  poor  bird  breathed  its  last  breath  ;  and 
from  that  time  he  became  feeble,  and  moaning  his  sol- 
itary state,  he  languished  a  few  months,  and  then  died 
also. 

Here  we  see  an  example  of  affection  in  a  pair  of  little 
birds,  well  worthy  of  our  imitation.  In  this  world  of 
sickness  and  trouble,  there  is  not  a  duty  we  owe  our  fel- 
low creatures  more  obvious,  than  that  of  assisting  those 
who  cannot  help  themselves.  Nor  is  it  to  our  particular 
friends  only,  that  we  owe  this  duty  ;  for  Christ  says,  "  if 
ye  love  them  who  love  you,  what  reward  have  ye  1  do 
not  even  the  publicans  the  same  1"  This  shows  that 
we  are  not  to  expect  any  reward  for  loving  and  helping 
our  friends,  and  those  who  love  us  ;  on  the  contrary,  it  is 
wicked  and  unfeeling  not  to  do  so.  Even  the  birds  of 
the  air,  as  we  see  by  the  above  story,  possess  natural 
affection,  and  repay  kindness  with  kindness.  As  reason- 
able beings,  and  above  all,  as  Christians,  we  are  bound  to 
do  more.  We  must  extend  the  hand  of  charity  and  be- 
nevolence to  strangers,  when  in  affliction,  and  like  the 
Good  Samaritan,  pour  oil  and  wine  into  the  wounds  of 
the  distressed,  wherever  we  meet  them. 


THE  ASH  COLORED  PARROT. 
How  large  is  the  ash  colored  Parrot  ? 

The  ash  colored  Parrot  measures  nearly  a  foot  and  a 
half  long;  but  the  tail  is  considerably  longer  than  the 
body. 


THE    CROW. 


33 


Uh.il  n  lln-  .-"lor  of  thubin!  .' 

Its  plumage  is  chielh  of  tin1  color  of  wood  ashes  ;  the 
bill  in  Mack  ;  tin-  head  and  neck  an-  u'i'  >  ;  ib'1  'ail  i* 
briirhi  red  ;  the  len>  aie  ash  colored,  and  claws  blackish. 

Wlii-n-  i~  tl  'ind  .' 

This  bird  is  a  native  of  Guinea,  and  oilier  parts  of 
Africa. 

This  is  tin-  kind  of  Parrot  that  is  most  highly  valued, 
on  account  of  ihr  facility  with  which  it  imitates  tin.-  hu- 
man voice.  It  listens  with  gn-al  attention  to  its  instruct- 
or, and  will  try  to  u-pcat  its  lesson  when  alone.  Its 
memory,  if  cultivated  when  young,  is  sometimes  very 
surpii-ing.  An  author  of  credit  tells  us  of  a  Parrot, 
which  could  repeal  the  whole  of  the  Apostles'  creed, 
without  making  a  mistake. 

Same  of  these  birds  of  uncommon  talents  in  the  art  of 
talking  and  singing,  have  been  sold  for  considerable 
sums  of  money.  Colonel  O'Kelly,  an  English  gentle- 
man, gave  for  a  Parrot  five  hundred  dollars.  This  bird 
could  repeat  a  great  number  of  sentences,  answer  many 
questions,  and  sing  or  whistle  a  variety  of  songs.  While 
singing  or  whistling,  it  beat  lime  with  all  the  accuracy 
of  an  experienced  musician.  If  any  mislake  was  made 
in  the  performance,  il  would  go  back  to  the  place  of  the 
error,  correct  it,  and  then  sing  the  tune  through  with 
wonderful  (\.I.ITU  ss.  This  singular  bird  could  express 
her  wants  in  such  a  manner  as  lo  be  well  understood  by 
the  family. 

llei  exact  aire  was  not  known,  bul  it  was  certain  that 
she  was  upwards  of  thirty  years  old  when  she  died. 

Colonel  O'Kelly  was  repeatedly  offered  five  hundred 
guineas  a  year  for  the  use  of  this  bird,  by  those  who 
wi-hed  to  carry  her  about  for  public  exhibition  ;  bul  oul 
of  tenderness  to  his  favorite,  he  constantly  refused  to  let 
her  go  at  any  price. 

This  bird  was  so  celebrated  in  London,  that  when  she 
died,  an  account  of  her  death,  with  a  sketch  of  her  life, 
was  given  in  the  London  Evening  Post. 

Dr.  Goldsmith  says,  that  a  Parrot  which  belonged  to 
king  Henry  the  Seventh,  having  been  kepi  in  a  room 
ihe  river  Thames,  had  learned  to  repeat  many 
words  and  sentences  from  the  boatmen  and  passengers 
on  the  river.  One  day  while  it  was  sporting  on  the 
perch,  which  happened  to  l>e  over  the  river,  it  unluckily 
fell  into  the  water.  The  bird  no  sooner  found  itself  in 
this  situation,  than  it  called  aloud,  "A  boat!  twenty 
pounds  for  a  boat !"  A  boatman,  happening  lo  be  near 
the  place  where  the  Parrot  was  floating,  immediately 
took  it  up,  and  carried  il  to  the  king,  at  the  same  lime 
demanding  of  him  the  twenty  pounds  which  the  hird 
had  bid  for  the  boat.  This  the  king  refused,  but  agreed 
to  leave  it  to  the  Parrot  to  say  bow  much  the  man  should 
have.  The  bird,  understanding  this  conversation,  in- 
stantly screamed  out,  "Give  the  knave  a  groat !" 


Mr.  Locke  ha-  related  an  anecdote  of  one  of  these 
bird-,  still  more  extraordinary,  and  were  it  not  the  case, 
that  the  evidence  was  sufficient  to  satisfy  him  of  its  truth, 
we  should  not  relate  it  here. 

There  was  a  certain  old  Parrol  al  Brazil,  which  was 
M>  celebrated  for  giving  answers  like  a  tational  crealure, 
that  Prince  Maurice  had  the  curiosity  to  send  for  it,  and 
see  for  himself,  whether  (he  extraordinary  stories  he  had 
heard  about  it  were  true. 

When  first  brought  into  the  room,  the  bird  exclaimed, 
"What  a  company  of  while  men  are  here."  One  of  the 
company  then  asked  it,  "who  is  thai  man,"  (pointing 
towaids  ihe  prince.)  The  Parrol  answered,  "some 
greal  general  or  other."  The  prince  then  asked  it, 
"from  what  place  do  yon  come."  The  bird  replied, 
"from  Maringan."  "To  whom  do  you  belong?  said 
the  prince.  "To  a  Portuguese,"  said  Poll.  He  asked 
again,  "  what  do  you  do  there  ?"  "I  look  after  chick- 
ens." The  prince,  laughing,  exclaimed,  "You  look 
after  chickens  !"  The  Parrot  answered,  "Yes,  I, — and 
I  know  well  enough  how  to  do  it;"  at  the  same  time 
beginning  lo  chuck,  like  a  hen. 

This  story  is  related  by  Mr.  Locke,  in  his  Essay  on 
Human  Understanding. 


THE  CROW. 

The  Crow  tribe  feed  both  on  flesh  and  vegetables. 
They  associate  in  flocks,  and  are  sometimes  very  noisy 
and  clamorous.  They  inhabit  almost  every  country  in 
the  world,  and  generally  build  their  nests  on  trees. 
Some  of  them  do  much  mischief  by  pulling  up  and  eat- 
ing ihe  corn  after  il  is  planted.  This  tribe  have  claws 
for  seizing  their  prey,  which  they  sometimes  take  alive  ; 
but  their  bills  are  not  booked,  for  tearing,  like  those  of 
the  falcon.  One  or  two  of  this  family  can  be  laughl  lo 
sing,  and  to  speak  words.  The  Raven,  common  Crow, 
and  Rook,  belong  to  this  family. 


THE  RAVT.V 


34 


THE    CROW. 


How  large  is  the  Raven .' 

The  Raven  is  two  feet  long,  from  the  bill  to  the  end  of 
the  tail,  and  nearly  four  feet  in  extent,  with  the  wings 
spread. 

What  is  the  color  of  this  bird  .' 

The  general  color  of  the  Raven  is  deep,  glossy  black, 
with  steel  blue  reflections. 

What  is  the  difference  between  the  Raven  and  the  Crow? 

This  bird  differs  from  the  Crow  in  being  larger,  and 
in  having  its  bill  more  hooked  at  the  end.  It  also  differs 
in  color,  the  Crow  being  of  a  bluish  black,  and  without 
that  gloss  which  is  seen  on  the  Raven. 

This  bird  is  hardy,  bold,  voracious,  sly,  and  very  mis- 
chievous. When  tarned,  which  is  easily  done,  it  be- 
comes familiar,  and  gentle,  and  by  the  variety  of  tricks 
which  it  plays,  is  often  very  amusing.  It  may  be  taught 
to  bring  and  carry  things,  like  a  dog,  to  talk,  like  a  par- 
rot, and  even  to  sing  with  a  tolerable  voice.  But  the 
cunning  and  vicious  tricks  which  the  Raven  is  always  in 
the  habit  of  playing,  often  renders  him  a  very  disagreea- 
ble animal.  He  is  so  voracious,  as  to  eat  any  thing  that 
comes  in  his  way,  either  raw  or  cooked.  He  is  also  a 
thief  by  habit,  and  even  when  he  has  enough,  will  con- 
tinue to  steal,  and  hide  his  plunder.  He  is  curious  to 
know  what  is  contained  in  every  nook  and  corner  of  the 
house  :  and  particularly  if  any  thing  is  covered  up,  and 
carefully  concealed,  he  will  continue  to  poke  and  pry, 
until,  if  possible,  he  comes  at  the  secret.  He  torments 
the  dogs  and  cats,  by  bawling,  and  striking  at  them  ; 
plays  his  tiicks  upon  the  liens  and  chickens ;  drives 
away  every  rook,  crow,  or  other  Raven,  that  comes  near 
his  habitation ;  and  picks  out  the  eyes  of  every  sick  sheep 
or  lamb  in  the  barn  yard. 

He  is  so  in  the  habit  of  stealing,  as  to  take  things  of 
which  he  can  make  no  sort  of  use.  Any  article  that  has 
a  shining  surface,  is  always  a  strong  temptation  to  him. 
A  tea-spoon,  a  piece  of  money,  a  ring,  or  a  knife,  are 
things  on  which  he  sets  a  particular  value  ;  and  he 
never  fails,  when  they  come  in  his  way,  to  carry  them 
to  his  favorite  hiding  place. 

A  cook  in  a  family  missed  many  tea-spoons,  one  after 
another,  but  could  not  account  for  the  loss.  He  also 
missed  several  other  articles,  in  a  manner  quite  mysteri- 
ous, and  unaccountable.  The  poor  honest  cook  might 
have  been  accused  of  taking  these  things  himself,  had  he 
not  one  day  caught  a  Raven  that  was  kept  in  the  house 
in  the  act  of  stealing  a  tea-spoon.  He  watched  the  bird, 
and  saw  him  carry  it  away  to  his  hiding-place,  and  there 
conceal  it.  The  cook  now  laid  open  the  mystery,  for  on 
searching  this  place,  he  not  only  drew  out  this  spoon, 
but  a  dozen  more  along  with  it. 

In  the  wild  state,  the  Raven  is  a  most  greedy  and  fero- 
cious bird.  He  destroys  and  devours  any  helpless  animal 
that  falls  within  his  power.  About  his  food,  he  has  not 


the  least  delicacy.  No  kind  of  flesh,  whether  living,  or 
long  dead,  comes  amiss  to  him.  Any  thing  which  is 
lame  or  sick,  and  which  he  can  master,  or  which  once 
had  life,  excites  his  craving  appetite,  and  he  falls  eagerly 
to  work  to  satisfy  it.  Having  eaten  all  he  can  himself, 
he  then  goes  and  gives  notice  to  his  fellow  Ravens  of 
his  good  fortune,  and  invites  them  to  go  and  partake  of 
what  he  has  left. 

The  Raven  is  not,  like  the  eagle  and  falcon,  a  bold 
and  courageous  warrior,  who  attacks  animals  in  the  vigor 
of  life,  and  thus  gives  them  a  chance  of  escaping  if  they 
can;  but  he  is  a  base  and  cowardly  assassin,  who  attacks 
the  young  or  the  disabled,  when  they  can  make  no  re- 
sistance. In  his  disposition,  he  is  artful,  mean  and  cruel, 
and  in  his  habits  unclean  and  voracious. 

Such  is  the  character  of  the  Raven.  In  it  we  find 
nothing  generous,  or  noble,  or  any  thing  that  is  worthy 
of  imitation  ;  but  on  the  contrary,  every  part  of  his  con- 
duct is  hateful  and  worthy  only  to  be  despised.  Even 
his  color  is  made  to  correspond  with  the  darkness  of  his 
character. 

The  Raven  has  always  been  considered  a  bird  of  ill 
omen.  Its  croakiugs  were  supposed  to  be  a  sign  that 
some  evil  was  about  to  happen  to  one  or  more  of  the 
persons  who  heard  them.  Even  at  the  present  day, 
some  ignorant  people  believe  that  if  a  Raven  lights  upon 
their  houses,  some  dreadful  accident  will  happen  to  one 
or  more  of  the  family.  This  belief,  however,  arises  from 
folly,  and  the  want  of  knowledge  ;  for  nothing  can  be 
more  ridiculous,  than  to  suppose  that  this  bird  is  sent  by 
a  superior  power,  to  warn  us  of  evil ;  and  it  would  be 
still  more  foolish  to  believe  that  the  bird  came  of  its  own 
accord  for  this  purpose. 

The  Raven  is  several  times  spoken  of  in  the  Scriptures, 
and  generally  in  allusion  to  some  of  its  peculiar  habits ; 
once  or  twice  it  is  mentioned  in  connexion  with  interest- 
ing historical  events. 

This  bird  often  builds  its  nest  on  the  top  of  some  an- 
cient tower,  or  in  some  part  of  a  ruined  or  forsaken 
building  ; — a  place  once  inhabited,  but  which  has  be- 
come desolate,  by  the  death,  or  removal  of  the  people. 
In  allusion  to  this  circumstance,  several  of  the  prophets, 
when  they  have  spoken  of  the  approaching  ruin  of  a 
people,  or  nation,  have  figuratively  expressed  it,  by  say- 
ing, that  where  cities  once  stood,  and  where  the  voice  of 
mirth  and  melody  was  once  heard,  there  should  come 
such  desolation,  that  the  Raven  should  inhabit  that 
place.  Thus  Isaiah  says  of  Edom  :  "The  cormorant 
and  the  bittern  shall  possess  it,  the  owl,  also,  and  the 
Raven  shall  dwell  in  it."  Isaiah  34 ;  11. 

When  we  consider  that  the  Raven  and  the  owl  live 
only  in  places  which  are  distant  from  the  habitations  of 
men,  and  that  in  their  wild  stale,  they  slum  all  human 


THE    C  R  O  \V  . 


39 


society,  we  cannot  but  lie  struck  with  the  awful  desola- 
tion that  attended  the  fulfilment  of  tills  prn|iln-cy.  And 
yet  it  is  thus  thai  God  sometimes  punishes  the  wicked- 
ness ol'  nations. 

Tin-  youiiiT  Havens,  in  another  place  are  spoken  of,  as 
being  tinder  (lie  particular  care  of  providence.  The 
M.I-I  II  jh  lid  to  Job,  "who  provide'th  for  the  Raven 
his  I'm  .(I  '  when  Ins  yoimi;  one>  ciy  unto  ( iod,  they  wan- 
der for  lack  of  meat."  JohliS;  41.  Again,  it  is  sttiil, 
"  He  uivetli  iii  the  l»a-i  his  food,  und  to  the  young  Ra- 
ven>  when  they  cry." 

These  passages,  while  they  show  the  care  whirl, 
takes  of  all  his  creatures,  are  striking  illustrations  of  the 
natural  history  "f  this  bird.  The  old  Ravens,  as  soon  as 
the  yomiLr  ones  are  uf  a  certain  age,  and  sometimes  even 
before  they  are  able  to  take  care  of  themsehes,  either 
forsake  them,  or  drive  them  away  from  the  nest.  And 
hence  they  are  often  heard  to  cry,  and  are  seen  to  wan- 

•  for  lack  of  meal." 

It  is  at  this  time  that  the  native  inslinct  of  these  young 
creatures  is  tirsi  called  into  action,  in  order  to  seek  out 
their  food,  and  thus  u  is,  that  the  God  of  Nature  and  of 
Heaven,  feeds  them,  by  endowing  them  with  sagacity 
to  provide  for  their  own  wants. 

Tins  is  a  striking  example  of  the  fatherly  caro  which 
the  AlniiiriiiN  exercises  overall  his  works ;  and  from  it 
we  may  conclude,  that  since  He  "feeds  the  young  Ravens 
when  they  cry."  there  is  a  certainty  that  the  children  of 
men  will  never  suffer  waul,  so  long  as  they  put  their 
trust  in  Him. 

Solomon  alludes  to  this  bird  in  his  awful  warning  to 
children  against  disobedience  to  their  parents.  "The 
e\  •  that  mocketh  at  his  father,  and  despiseth  to  obey  the 
voice  of  his  mother,  the  Ravens  of  the  valley  shall  pick 
it  out,  and  the  young  eagles  shall  eat  it."  Proverbs 
30;  17. 

Solomon  here  refers  to  the  valley  of  Tophet,  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Jerusalem,  which  was  called  the  valley 
of  dead  bodies,  because  the  remains  of  executed  crimin- 
als were  thrown  there.  This  place  was  the  resort  of  ra- 
pacious biids,  for,  as  the  bodies  of  these  criminals  were 
left  iinbm  ied,  they  here  found  full  gratification  for  their 
voracious  appetites. 

The  most  disgraceful  and  ignominious  treatment  that 
could  be  inflicted  on  the  worst  of  men,  was  to  cast  their 
bodies  into  this  valley.  And  hence,  it  was  not  every 
criminal  who  suffered  death,  but  only  the  most  guilty, 
that  umleiwent  this  punishment. 

How  horrid  and  unnatural,  then,  must  the  crime  of 
disobedience  to  parents  have  appeared  in  the  eyes  of 
Solomon,  when  he  says,  that  such  children  deserve  the 
punishment  which  is  leservcd  only  for  the  most  guilty 
malefactor. 


Let  children,  then,  lake  care  how  they  treat  then 
parents  with  scorn  or  contempt,  but  hi  them  render  due 
obedience  to  their  commands;  always  remembering, 
that  by  so  doing,  they  obey,  not  only  the  law  of  God, 
but  of  nature  ;  and  that,  by  refusing  to  do  so,  they  run 
tin-  nskof  becoming  miserable  outcasts, both  in  this  world 
and  that  which  is  to  come. 

Another  interesting  fact  concerning  the  Raven,  is,  that 
these  birds  fed  the  holy  prophet  Elijah,  at  the  command 
of  God,  in  the  time  of  famine.  The  Lord  said  to  Klijah, 
"Gel  ihee  hence,  and  hide  thyself  by  the  brook  Cherith, 
that  is  before  Jordan.  And  it  shall  be,  that  thou  shall 
drink  of  the  brook;  and  I  have  commanded  the  Havens 
to  feed  thee  there."  1  Kings,  17;  3-6.  "  So  he  did 
according  to  the  word  of  the  Lord."  "  And  the  Ravens 
brought  him  bread  and  flesh  in  the  morning,  and  bread 
and  flesh  in  the  evening,  and  he  drank  of  the  brook." 

If  the  inquiry  be  made,  where  the  Havens  obtained 
the  bread  and  meat  for  the  supply  of  the  prophet,  we 
have  no  certain  answer  lo  give  on  that  subject,  as  the 
Sciiptures  do  not  inform  us. 


THE  ROOK. 

The  Rook  is  about  the  si/.e  of  the  common  crow,  being 
(  a  foot  and  a  half  long,  and  nearly  three  feet  in  extent. 

The  Rook  and  the  crow  appear  so  much  alike,  that 
one  is  often  mistaken  for  the  other.  But  the  Hook  dif- 
fers from  the  crow  in  having  no  feathers  between  ihe 
root  of  the  bill  and  the  eye,  and  in  having  a  more  glossy 
and  beautiful  plumage.  These  l.irds,  also,  differ  widely 
in  their  habits,  the.  crow  living  on  putrid  flesh,  while  ihe 
Rook  feeds  only  <>n  insects  and  corn. 

Rooks  are  very  sociable  in  their  h  1  in  their 

manners  harmless  and  innocent.  They  a—emlile  in  large 
flocks,  and  are  so  fond  of  the  society  of  each  oilier,  as  to 
build  iheir  nests  together  on  the  same  tree,  li  .-oine- 
timef,  lmwe\er,  happens  in  this  community,  us  well  as 
in  others,  thai  individuals  miarrel,  and  are  occasionally 
ii  pulling  the  nests  of  each  other  in  pieces,  and  fight- 


36 


THE    SHRIKE. 


ing  for  the  mastery.  Such  conduct  would  seem  unfavor- 
able to  their  living  together  in  harmony,  and  yet,  if  a 
pair  take  offense  at  such  a  quarrel,  and  retire  to  a  sepa- 
rate tree,  and  there  build  their  nest,  the  others  will  follow 
and  pull  it  in  pieces.  Some  unhappy  pairs  are  not  per- 
mitted to  build  their  nests  at  any  place,  until  all  the  rest 
have  finished  theirs,  for  as  soon  as  they  have  placed  a 
few  sticks  together  as  a  foundation,  a  party  will  come, 
and  throw  them  on  the  ground.  This,  probably,  is 
owing  to  some  offense  they  have  given  to  the  commu- 
nity. 

As  soon  as  the  Rooks  have  finished  their  nests,  and 
before  they  lay  their  eggs,  the  males  begin  to  bring  food 
and  feed  the  females ;  and  they  continue  to  supply  them 
in  this  manner  during  the  whole  time  they  are  sitting, 
and  until  the  young  are  of  considerable  size,  thus  leav- 
ing the  mothers  entire  leisure  to  take  care  of  their  young 
in  the  best  manner. 

When  a  community  of  these  birds  is  once  formed,  they 
seldom  admit  strangers  among  them.  If  new  comers 
from  other  societies  appear  in  the  neighborhood,  the  old 
inhabitants  are  so  uncivil  as  to  give  them  a  severe  beat- 
ing, and  drive  them  away. 

A  curious  instance  of  this  kind  happened  at  Newcastle, 
in  England.  Near  that  town  there  was  a  large  rookery, 
which  had  been  established  for  many  years ;  and  it  seems 
that  this  community  had,  as  usual,  adopted  the  iule,that 
their  numbers  should  not  be  increased  by  the  admission 
of  strangers  among  them.  One  year,  however,  in  defi- 
ance of  this  rule,  a  pair  of  strange  Rooks  came  and  at- 
tempted to  join  this  society,  by  building  their  nest  among 
the  others.  But  they  were  constantly  beaten  by  the  old 
inhabitants  ;  their  nest  was  pulled  down,  and  they  were 
finally  compelled  to  quit  the  place.  These  poor  birds 
then  took  refuge  on  the  spire  of  the  Exchange,  in  the 
midst  of  the  town,  and  although  perpetually  insulted  and 
interrupted  by  the  other  Rooks,  they  continued  to  work, 
until  they  finished  a  nest  on  the  top  of  the  vane.  Here 
they  reared  their  young,  and  although  the  nest  and  its 
inhabitants  were  turned  about  by  every  change  ofwind, 
still  they  became  so  attached  to  the  place,  as  to  return 
and  occupy  the  same  nest  for  ten  successive  years.  The 
spire  was  then  pulled  down,  and  these  faithful  birds  were 
compelled  to  seek  another  place. 

This  circumstance  was  so  curious,  and  the  inhabitants 
of  Newcastle  felt  such  an  interest  in  these  birds,  that  an 
engraver  there,  executed  a  small  representation  of  the 
top  of  the  spire,  the  vane,  and  the  nest,  and  such  was  the 
demand  for  this  litlle  curiosity,  that  the  artist  made  a 
considerable  sum  of  money  for  his  pains. 

The  substance  of  the  following  account  of  a  commu- 
nity of  Rooks,  is  related  by  Dr.  Percival. 


A  large  colony  of  Rooks  lived  many  years  in  a  grove 
on  the  bank  of  a  river,  near  Manchester,  in  England. 
On  a  pleasant  morning,  it  was  curious  and  interesting  to 
watch  the  various  labors  and  amusements  of  this  crowd- 
ed society.  The  idle  members  amused  themselves  by 
chasing  each  other  in  every  direction;  and  in  their 
flight,  they  made  the  air  resound  with  their  discordant 
croakings. 

In  the  midst  of  these  playful  tricks,  it  unfortunately 
happened  that  one  Rook,  by  a  sudden  turn,  struck  his 
bill  against  the  wing  of  another,  and  the  blow  was  such 
as  to  throw  the  wounded  bird  into  the  river.  On  seeing 
this,  the  sport  ceased  in  an  instant,  and  a  general  cry  of 
distress  was  heard  throughout  the  community.  All  the 
birds  hovered,  with  every  expression  of  anxiety,  over 
their  suffering  companion.  Encouraged  by  these  marks 
of  their  kindness,  and  perhaps  advised  by  a  language 
known  only  to  each  other,  the  wounded  bird  sprang  into 
the  air,  and  with  one  strong  effort  reached  the  point  of  a 
rock  at  the  edge  of  the  water.  On  this,  the  expressions 
of  joy  were  loud  and  animated  from  the  whole  company. 
But  this  cry  was  soon  changed  into  notes  of  lamentation, 
for  the  poor  bird,  in  attempting  to  fly  towards  the  nest, 
fell  into  the  river  again,  and  there  was  drowned,  amidst 
the  moa'nings  of  the  assembled  community. 

The  Rooks,  probably  by  sad  experience,  know  very 
well  how  to  distinguish  when  they  are  in  danger,  from 
the  approach  of  a  man,  and  when  he  can  do  them  no 
injury.  Hence  a  person  may  go  very  near  a  rookery, 
empty  handed  ;  but  if  he  carries  a  gun,  the  whole  com- 
munity instantly  take  the  alarm,  and  with  loud  screams 
warn  each  other  of  the  danger  ;  the  whole  flock,  at  the 
same  time,  taking  wing  before  he  comes  near  them. 


THE  SHRIKE. 

The  Shrikes  are  a  tribe  of  birds  which  live  both  on 
animal  and  vegetable  food.  They  have  hooked  bills, 
much  resembling  those  of  the  hawk,  and  claws  with 
which  they  are  enabled  to  seize  and  hold  small  birds, 
and  other  little  animals.  Considering  their  small  size, 
they  are  a  courageous  and  daring  tribe,  and  most  of  them 
have  an  air  of  smartness  and  activity  in  their  manners, 
which  indicate  their  readiness  to  engage  in  hazardous 
undertakings.  The  species  of  this  tribe  are  quite  nu- 
merous, and  one  or  more  of  them  are  found  in  almost 
every  country;  but  the  description  of  a  single  specimen 
will  give  an  idea  of  the  manners  of  the  whole  family. 


T  II  K    li  I.  U  E    J  A  V 


37 


THK  (iKKAT  SIII;:KK 

[  I'tiu  it  alio  called  the  Kulcher  Bird.] 

.1  Slirike? 

Tin-  (Jreat  Shrike  is  ten  Miches  long  anil  thirteen 
inclic-  in  extent. 

rd? 

Tin1  color  (if  the  hill  is  black  ;  the  upper  parts  arc 
pale  ash-color;  the  throat  nnd  under  pints  are  dirty 
white;  (he  quill-feaihen  and  tail  are  black,  ending  in 
while  ;  In-low  the  eyes  there  is  a  patch  of  black,  and  tin- 
legs  are  of  the  same  color. 

•nid  t 

The  Cre.it  Shrike  is  found  in  most  parts  of  the  United 
:d  in  Knrope. 

The  manners  and  hahits  of  this  hirtl  are,  in  some  re- 
.  <|iiue  peculiar.  Whenever  he  takes  more  food 
than  he  immediately  wants,  he  carries  it  to  a  thorn- bush, 
orilu1  >harp  twig  of  some  other  tree,  and  there  hangs  it 
up,  by  st.rk-nij  tin-  thorn  through  it.  In  orchards  fre- 
(|ueiiled  by  these  birds,  it  is  said  that  on  almost  every  tree, 
there  may  be  seen  grasshoppers,  or  other  insects,  sus- 
pended in  this  manner.  It  is  from  his  hanging  up  his 
provisions  in  this  way,  as  butchers  do  their  meal,  that  he 
is  called  Hatcher  Bird. 

Tin-*  practice  has  been  thought  to  arise  from  a  desire 
to  call  other  birds  neat  him,  that  he  might  seize  them, 
while-  they  weie  attempting  to  lake  the  bait  thus  fixed 
in  their  sight.  But  the  sante  habit  is  common  to  this  bird 
when  tamed,  and  seems  to  arise  rather  from  the  shortness 
of  his  claws,  and  consequent  difficulty  he  has  of  holding 
his  food,  while  he  (ears  it  with  his  bill.  Thus  if  he  kills 
a  small  bird,  when  in  the  wild  state,  he  takes  it  lo  .& 
thorn,  on  which  he  hangs  it,  and  (hen  with  his  hooked 
bill,  pulls  oil' die  flesh,  one  piece  after  another,  until  (he- 
whole  is  eadMi.  When  lamed,  he  acts  in  a  similar  man- 
ner with  any  piece  of  flesh  that  is  given  him,  spitting  it 
on  a  sharpened  slick  or  nail,  which  is  fixed  up  in  his  cage 
for  that  purpose. 

This  habit  does  not  seem  to  arise  entirely  from  a  \\  i>h 
In  preserve  liis  food  for  future  use,  for  in  many,  and  per- 
haps in  must  C.-IM-S,  the  grasshoppers,  which  are  served  in 
.i.iiirn  r,  are  sullen  d  to  dry  and  In-come  useless  in 
the  sim,  (he  bird  never  touching  them  afterwards. 

In  like  manner,  the  raven  and  crow  hide  (heir  provis- 


ions, and  other  articles  which  (hey  cannot  cat,  in  some 
sly  place,  but  never  see  (hem  afterwards. 


THE  BLUE  JAY. 

How  large  a  bird  is  the  Blue  Jay  ? 

The  Blue  Jay  is  one  foot  long,  and  a  fool  and  a  half  in 
extent. 

What  color  ii  this  bird  ? 

Its  color  is  chiefly  blue,  which  is  deep  on  the  back  and 
tail,  but  grows  pale  along  the  sides  ;  the  throat,  breast 
nnd  under  parts  are  white  ;  the  bill,  and  a  ring  about  the 
neck  are  black,  and  the  tail,  and  some  of  the  wing  feath- 
ers, are  barred  with  the  same  color.  On  the  head  there 
is  a  high  crest  of  purplish  blue  feathers,  which  the  bird 
can  raise  or  depress  at  pleasure. 

Where  i*  this  bird  found  1 

The  Blue  Jay  is  found  in  most  parts  of  North  Amer- 
ica, from  Canada  to  Florida. 

What  is  the  food  of  this  bird  i 

This  bird  lives  chiefly  on  chestnuts,  acorns  and  insects, 
but  sometimes  eats  such  flesh  as  he  can  find,  and  in  times 
of  scarcity,  kills  small  birds  for  his  own  use.  He  is  also 
very  fond  of  the  eggs  of  other  birds,  which  he  steals  when 
he  can  find  them. 

The  Blue  Jay  is  among  the  most  beautiful,  as  well  as 
active  and  noisy  birds  of  our  forests.  He  is  almost  every 
where  to  be  found,  and  go  when  you  will  among  the 
woods,  particularly  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  you  may  be 
sure,  that  he  will  force  himself  on  your  acquaintance. 
To  the  sportsman,  this  bird  is  often  the  most  troublesome 
creature  imaginable,  screaming  out  and  alarming  his 
LMIIIC,  just  at  the  moment  when  he  is  ready  to  fire  upon 
it.  Many  a  sportsman  has  In  en  placed  in  a  most  awk- 
ward and  provoking  condition,  by  such  interference. 
Perhaps  he  has  been  half  a  mile  around,  nnd  waded  up 
to  his  knees  through  the  mud,  to  get  within  u'un-shol  of 
a  Hock  of  ducks  ;  and  just  at  the  moment  when  he  thinks 
lo  accomplish  his  object,  he  happens  to  see  a  Blue  .Jay 
silling  still  and  quiet  over  his  head.  He  (hen  knows  that 


38 


THE    CUCKOO. 


his  labor  is  lost,  for  the  bird,  on  seeing  him,  instantly 
squalls  out,  and  away  goes  his  game.  The  gunner  now 
fires  at  the  Jay  in  revenge  for  such  a  provocation, but  gen- 
erally without  effect,  for  the  cunning  bird  takes  care  not 
to  give  the  alarm  until  he  is  well  on  the  wing. 

This  bird  is  seldom  silent,  unless  lie  has  some  secret, 
or  some  mischievous  object  in  view.  While  the  female 
is  sitting  on  her  nest,  the  male  visits  her  only  in  the  most 
secret  manner.  He  never,  on  these  occasions,  makes  the 
least  noise,  while  near  her,  probably  because  he  is  afraid 
the  nest  will  be  robbed,  in  the  same  manner  that  he  has 
many  a  time  robbed  those  of  other  birds.  When  he  pays 
a  plundering  visit  to  the  barn  yard  or  corn  field,  he  is 
also  silent  and  secret,  until  he  happens  to  be  discovered, 
when  he  screams  out  in  triumph,  and  instantly  makes 
his  escape. 

Mr.  Wilson  says  that  this  bird  is  not  only  bold  and  vo- 
ciferous, but  possesses  a  considerable  talent  at  mimicry, 
and  seems  to  enjoy  great  satisfaction  in  mocking  and 
teasing  the  little  hawk,  imitating  his  cry  whenever  he 
sees  him,  and  squealing  out  as  if  caught.  This  soon 
brings  a  number  of  his  own  kind  about  him,  who  all  join 
in  the  frolic,  darting  at  the  hawk,  and  imitating  the  cries 
of  a  bird  sorely  wounded,  and  already  in  the  clutches  of 
the  devourer.  But  this  ludicrous  farce  often  ends  in  the 
destruction  of  one  of  the  actors  ;  for  the  hawk,  after 
bearing  these  insults  for  a  time,  singles  out  one  of  the 
most  noisy  and  provoking,  and  at  one  swoop  brings  him 
to  the  ground.  The  cry  of  distress,  instead  of  being  a 
mockery,  now  becomes  real,  all  the  Jays  at  the  same  time 
changing  their  tone  into  loud  screams,  to  give  notice  of 
the  disaster.  The  hawk,  mean  time,  being  sure  of  his 
prey,  eats  it  at  his  leisure. 


THE  CUCKOO. 

This  tribe  of  birds  have  long  bills,  which  are  a  little 
crooked  ;  their  toes  are  placed,  two  backwards,  and  two 
forward  ;  the  tail  consists  of  ten  feathers,  the  outer  ones 
being  only  about  half  as  long  as  those  in  the  middle. 
They  feed  chiefly  on  insects. 


THE  COMMON  CUCKOO. 


How  large  is  the  Common  Cuckoo  .' 

The  Common  Cuckoo  is  fourteen  inches  long,  and  two 
feet  in  extent. 

What  is  the  color  of  this  bird  ? 

Its  color  along  the  back  is  light  brown  ;  the  breast  and 
under  parts  are  white  ;  and  the  throat  is  pale  grey. 
The  plumage  of  the  young  is  brown,  mixed  with  black. 

Where  is  this  bird  found  ? 

The  Common  Cuckoo  is  found  in  England,  and  other 
parts  of  Europe;  but  not  in  America. 

What  is  said  concerning  this  bird's  nest  ? 

It  is  said  that  this  Cuckoo  does  not  build  for  herself  a 
nest,  but  that  she  lays  her  eggs  in  the  nests  of  other  birds. 

We  are  indebted  to  the  celebrated  Dr.  Jenner,  for  the 
substance  of  the  following  account  of  this  singular  bird. 

He  states,  that  during  the  time  when  the  hedge  spar- 
row is  laying  her  eggs,  the  Cuckoo  goes  and  deposites 
hers  among  the  others,  in  the  nest.  This  sparrow,  for 
some  reason  which  is  unknown,  has  a  habit,  while  she 
is  sitting,  of  throwing  some  of  her  eggs  out  of  the  nest, 
and  of  injuring  others  in  such  a  manner  that  only  two 
or  three  of  them  produce  young  birds.  But  it  is  very 
remarkable,  that  she  has  never  been  known  to  throw 
out,  or  injure  the  eggs  of  the  Cuckoo. 

When  the  sparrow  has  sat  her  usual  time,  and  has 
hatched  the  young  Cuckoos,  and  some  of  her  own  off- 
spring, it  has  been  found  that  the  young  sparrows,  to- 
gether with  any  unhatched  eggs  that  may  remain,  are 
thrown  out  of  the  nest,  thus  leaving  only  the  young 
Cuckoos  to  be  nurtured  by  the  old  sparrow.  The  young 
sparrows  are  not  killed,  nor  are  the  eggs  broken,  but 
both  are  left  to  perish,  entangled  in  the  bushes,  or  lying 
on  the  ground  under  them. 

From  observations  afterwards  made  by  Dr.  Jenner,  he 
found  that  the  old  sparrow  was  not  herself  the  means  of 
turning  out  her  eggs  and  her  young,  but  that  this  was 
done  by  the  young  Cuckoo.  He  states  that  he  looked 
into  a  sparrow's  nest  which  contained  two  sparrow's  eggs, 
and  one  Cuckoo's  egg.  Afterwards,  on  going  to  the 
nest,  he  found  that  it  contained  only  one  young  sparrow 
and  the  young  Cuckoo.  He  now  watched  the  proceed- 
ings, and  saw  the  young  Cuckoo  in  the  act  of  throwing 
out  the  little  sparrow.  The  manner  of  doing  this  was 
quite  curious,  and  displayed  in  a  wonderful  degree  the 
instinct  of  an  animal  only  a  day  or  two  old. 

The  young  Cuckoo  contrived,  after  working  for  some 
time,  to  get  the  sparrow  on  its  back  ;  then  holding  up  its 
wings  to  prevent  its  rolling  off  over  the  head,  it  climbed 
backwards,  up  the  side  of  the  nest  until  it  reached  the 
edge ;  where  resting  for  a  moment,  it  threw  the  poor 
little  outcast  quite  from  the  nest,  and  it  fell  on  the 
ground.  After  staying  for  a  moment,  and  feeling  about 
with  its  wings,  to  be  certain  that  the  work  was  properly 


THE    WOODPECKER. 


done,  ill''  ynuiiir  I y i. '•lit  hy  quietly  down  in  i  of 

tin-  whole  IP 

|)r.  Jenner  afterWHidi)  made  seveial  experiments  l>y 
pulling  an  e^'  at  a  (inn-,  into  the  nest  \viih  iliis  \oini-j 
Cuckoo,  anil  alwa\s  fi.miil,  ihat  like  (lit-  little  sparrow, 
they  weie  ?i  mil  I '  1 1  »wn  nil  tin-  MM'tmd. 

It  miirhi  serin  improbable  I'tom  the  ruiinil  slinpe  of  a 
younj,'  liiril's  l>ark,  that  an  fj'^  could  lie  made  to  lie  tli 
while  ihc  hille  animal  crawled  up  the  >ide  of  the  neat 
and  cast  it  out.  But  our  author  siss  that  n.itme  M-ems 
to  have  formed  (his  l>ird  with  reference  to  such  an  object, 
for  the  hack  is  shaped  dillei  ent  ly  from  that  of  other 
youtiir  hllcls,  heillfj  wide  jllsl  hack  of  the  Wing's,  and 
having  a  hollow  place  there  in  which  the  egg  can  bo 
safely  h>'!. 

To  us.  tin-  reason  why  the  Cuckoo,  in  common  with 
Other  birds,  doi-s  not  l.uiM  a  nest  and  hatch  her  younir, 
is  unkiiow  n.  Perhaps  n  may  !•••  owm_'  to  the  short  time 
which  she  si;i\-  MI  Knu'land,  where  Dr.  Jeimer  made  his 
observations.  In  that  country,  this  bird  n  .  like 

many  others,  with  the  seasons,  but  she  comes  late  and 
ing  only  a  short  time.  The  Amer- 
ican Cuckoo  is  also  a.  migratory  bird,  but  her  stay  is 
lon-er.  and  she  lays  ami  hatches  her  young  like  other 
birds. 

In  the  United  States  there  are  two  species  of  the 
Cuckoo,  both  of  which  differ  from  the  Common,  or  Eng- 
lish one  already  described.  These  are  the  Yellow-billed 
and  the  Black-hilled  Cuckoo.  Both  these  are  a  little 
smaller  than  the  Common  one  of  Europe.  The  yellow- 
billed  is  of  a  yellowish  brown  color  on  the  back,  and 
white  underneath;  the  lower  mandible  being  yellow. 
The  black-billed  Cuckoo  does  not  differ  materially  in 
color  or  size  from  this  ;  but  both  mandibles  are  black, 
h  these  birds  are  common  in  this  country. 


fin:  WOODPECKER. 

The  Woodpeckers  are  a  tribe  of  birds  which  differ  in 
their  manners  and  habits  from  all  others.  They  live 
chiefly  on  woims  and  oilier  insects,  which  they  obtain 
by  perking  holes  in  decayed  trees.  Their  tongues  are 
long,  sharp,  bony  at  the  end,  and  barbed;  formini:  an 
instrument,  by  means  of  which  they  draw  the  worms  out 
of  the  devices  of  the  wood.  Ttiey  lay  their  eggs  ia  hol- 
low tiees.  HI  m  holt--  which  they  make  fur  themselves. 
Their  toes  are  placed,  two  backwards,  ami  two  forward; 
and  their  tails  consist  often  -harp  pointed  feathers. 


IVORY-BILLED  WOODPECKER. 

H"W  large  ia  the  Ivory-billed  Woodpecker  t 

The   Ivory-billed   Woodpecker  is  twenty  inches  long 
and  two  feel  and  a  half  in  extent. 
•  I  U  the  shape  of  this  bird  ? 

The  form  and  appearance  of  this  bird,  are  very  striking 
and  beautiful.  His  neck  is  elegantly  curved  ;  his  heod 
is  crowned  with  a  noble  crest,  more  than  two  inches 
high  ;  his  bill  is  smooth  and  while,  like  polished  ivory  ; 
his  eye  is  biilliant  and  daring,  and  his  whole  aspect 
noble  and  dignified. 

What  is  the  color  of  this  Woodpecker  ! 

II is  color  }»  black,  with  a  white  stripe  beginning  near 
the  eye  and  running  down  the  neck  and  alon^  the  buck  ; 
the  upper  i|iiill  feathers  are  also  white;  the  forward  part 
of  the  crest  is  black,  and  the  back  part, of  a  most  splendid 
crimson. 

Wh.redoettbubird  . 

The  Ivory-billed  Woodpecker  inhabits  all  the  soutn- 
ern  parts  of  North  America,  from  Virginia  to  Florida. 
He  resides  in  the  great  forests,  and  is  seen  only  on  the 
tallest  and  largest  trees. 

This  noble  bird  stands  at  the  head  of  the  tribe  to  which 
he  belongs.  By  his  size,  his  superb  crest,  and  his  ivory 
hill,  nature  seems  to  have  designed  him  as  the  king  of 
his  race.  In  his  manners  and  character,  he  is  by  far 
superior  to  the  common  kind  of  Woodpeckers,  and  as  if 
conscious  of  bis  rank  and  dignity,  he  nev<  ites 

with  those  who  seek  their  food  among  shrubbery,  and 
alon-r  fallen  trees.  He  seems  to  scorn  such  lowly  situa- 
tions, and  is  to  be  found  only  amon-.'  the  towering  In 
of  the  forest.  There  the  strokes  of  his  lull,  like  those  c  f 
the  wood  cutter,  may  he  heard  for  miles,  resounding 
through  tilt1  solitary  wilds  of  nature. 


40 


THE    KING-FISHER. 


At  such  places,  may  be  seen  enormous  pine  or  cypress 
trees,  dead  and  dry  at  the  top,  with  cart  loads  of  bark 
and  chips  at  the  root,  the  fruits  of  his  industry.  He 
never  attacks  sounder  growing  trees,  because  they  yield 
him  no  food  for  his  labor,  as  it  is  only  decayed  ones  in 
which  worms  and  insects  are  found. 

Hence,  although  endowed  with  strength  and  power 
to  do  much  mischief,  by  destroying  the  forest  timber,  he 
never  does  the  least  injury. 

The  character  of  this  curious  bird  will  be  best  illustra- 
ted by  Mr.  Wilson's  account  of  the  conduct  of  one  which 
he  wounded  and  took  alive. 

"The  first  place  I  observed  this  bird  at,"  says  he, 
"  when  on  my  journey  to  the  south,  was  about  twelve 
miles  from  Wilmington,  in  North  Carolina.  There  I 
found  the  bird  from  which  the  drawing  of  the  figure  in 
the  plate  was  taken.  This  bird  was  only  wounded 
slightly  in  the  wing,  and  on  being  caught,  uttered  a 
loudly  reiterated,  and  most  piteous  note,  exactly  resem- 
bling the  violent  crying  of  a  young  child  ;  which  so  ter- 
rified my  horse,  as  nearly  to  have  cost  me  my  life.  It 
was  distressing  to  hear  it.  I  carried  it  with  me  in  my 
chaise  to  Wilmington.  In  passing  through  the  streets, 
its  affecting  cries  surprised  every  one  within  hearing, 
particularly  the  females,  who  hurried  to  the  doors  and 
windows  with  looks  of  alarm  and  anxiety.  I  drove  on, 
and  arriving  at  the  piazza  of  the  hotel,  where  I  intended 
to  put  up,  the  landlord  came,  and  a  number  of  other 
persons  who  happened  to  be  there,  all  equally  alarmed 
at  what  they  heard.  This  alarm  was  greatly  increased, 
by  my  asking  whether  he  could  furnish  me  with  accom- 
modations for  myself  and  baby.  The  man  looked  blank, 
and  foolish,  while  the  others  stared  with  great  astonish- 
ment. 

"After  diverting  myself  for  a  minute  or  two  at  their 
expense,  I  drew  my  Woodpecker  from  under  the  cover, 
and  a  general  laugh  took  place.  I  took  him  up  stairs, 
and  locked  him  up  in  my  room,  while  I  went  to  see  my 
horse  taken  care  of.  In  less  than  an  hour  I  returned, 
and  on  opening  the  door,  he  set  up  the  same  distressing 
shout,  which  now  appeared  to  proceed  from  grief,  that 
he  had  been  discovered  in  his  attempts  to  escape.  He 
had  mounted  along  the  side  of  the  window,  nearly  as 
high  as  the  ceiling,  a  little  below  which  he  had  began 
to  break  through.  The  bed  was  covered  with  large 
pieces  of  plaster ;  the  lath  was  exposed  for  at  least  fifteen 
inches  square,  and  a  hole  large  enough  to  admit  the  fist 
opened  to  the  weather  boards;  so  that  in  less  than 
another  hour,  he  would  certainly  have  succeeded  in 
making  his  way  through. 

"I  now  tied  a  string  around  his  leg,  and  fastening  it 
to  the  table,  again  left  him.  I  wished  to  preserve  his 
life,  and  had  gone  off  in  search  of  suitable  food  for  him. 


As  I  reascendcd  the  stairs,  I  heard  him  again  hard  at 
work,  and  on  entering,  had  the  mortification  to, perceive 
that  he  had  almost  entirely  ruined  the  mahogany  table 
to  which  he  was  fastened,  and  on  which  he  had  wreaked 
his  whole  vengeance. 

"While  engaged  in  taking  the  drawing,  he  cut  me 
severely  in  several  places,  and  on  the  whole  displayed 
such  a  noble,  and  unconquerable  spirit,  that  I  was  fre- 
quently tempted  to  restore  him  to  his  native  woods." 

These  birds  lay  their  eggs  in  the  bodies  of  trees,  gen- 
erally selecting  for  this  purpose  one  of  the  largest  they 
can  find.  The  pair  assist  each  other  in  the  work  of  dig- 
ging out  a  large  cavity,  which  is  sometimes  four  or  five 
feet  deep,  and  at  the  bottom  of  which  it  is  scooped  out 
in  form  of  a  dish,  to  contain  the  eggs  and  bird. 

The  common  note  of  the  Ivory-billed  Woodpecker, 
resembles  the  sound  of  a  trumpet,  or  the  high  tone  of 
the  clarionet,  and  is  repeated  every  three  or  four  seconds. 
It  is  so  loud  as  to  be  heard  to  the  distance  of  half  a  mile 
or  more,  though  it  seems  to  be  within  a  few  rods  of  the 
hearer. 

The  more  we  study  the  works  of  creation,  as  presented 
in  the  different  kinds  of  animals,  the  more  we  shall  be 
convinced  that  there  was  a  design  in  forming  each  one 
for  the  peculiar  mode  of  life  which  it  lives. 

If  we  particularly  examine  the  bird,  whose  history  is 
given  above,  we  shall  be  struck  with  the  fact,  that  every 
part  of  him  is  formed  exactly  for  the  kind  of  life  which 
he  leads.  His  bill  is  strong,  hard  and  polished,  so  as  to 
enter  the  wood  with  the  greatest  ease ;  his  head  is  large 
and  heavy,  answering  all  the  purposes  of  a  hammer  ;  his 
neck  is  longer  than  most  land  birds,  by  which  the  great- 
er force  is  given  to  his  head ;  his  claws  are  sharp,  and 
placed,  two  forward,  and  two  backward,  in  the  best  po- 
sition for  grasping,  or  holding  on  to  the  side  of  a  tree, 
and  climbing;  his  tongue  is  long,  hard,  pointed,  and 
barbed,  for  the  purpose  of  drawing  his  food  from  the 
cavities  of  the  wood,  and  his  eyes  are  sharp  and  piercing, 
and  so  placed  as  that  he  can  look  directly  forward  to  the 
point  of  his  bill,  and  see  the  smallest  insect  under  the 
bark  of  the  tree. 


THE  KING-FISHER. 

The  King-fisher  tribe  frequent  the  banks  of  rivers,  and 
the  shores  of  lakes  and  p*bnds.  They  live  on  small  fish, 
which,  divipg  down,  they  catch  with  much  dexterity. 
Their  bills  are  sharp  at  the  end,  and  are  large  and  long. 
!  They  do  not  seize  their  prey  with  their  claws,  like  the 
fish-hawk,  but  take  it  with  their  bills.  There  are  sev- 


THE    CONDOR. 


il 


eral  species  of  this  tribe,  only  one  of  which  is  found  in 
this  country. 


RAPACIOUS    HIRDS. 


THE  RAPACIOUS  BIRDS  live  entirely  on  flesh,  whu  h 
some  of  (In-ill  kill  for  themselves,  while  others  eat  only 
such  as  ihry  find  aln-adx  di-:nl.  They  arc  all  furnished 
with  sharp  talon--,  nr  daws,  willi  which  they  seize  lln-n 
prey,  and  with  hooked  bills  to  tear  the  flesh.  These 
birds  associate  in  pairs,  Imt  never  unite  in  flocks.  In 
this  tribe  the  female  is  larger  and  stronger  than  the  male. 
To  this  order  belong  the  Condor,  the  Vultures,  the  Eagles, 
the  Falcons  and  the  Owls. 


TIIK   I'.n.TK.I) 
Urge  is  the  Belted  King-fisher  ? 

The  Belted    Kin-;  nMier  is  about  one  foot  long,  and 
twenty  inches  in  extent,  when  the  wings  are  ppread. 
il  is  the  shape  of  this  bird  .' 

In  shape  it  is  short  and  thick  ;  (he  head  is  large  and 
crested  ;  the  legs  short  and  small  ;  and  the  bill  remark- 
ably long,  thick  and  sharp. 

What  u  the  color  of  tlii*  bird  > 

Its  prevailing  color  is  light  blue;  around  the  neck, 
there  is  a  belt  of  while,  from  which  the  bird  takes  its 
name ;  the  breast  is  red,  mixed  with  blue  ;  the  under 
parts  are  while,  with  a  spot  of  red  just  before  the  legs  ; 
the  lull  is  black,  with  a  white  spot  near  the  root  of  the 
lower  mandible. 

Where  does  the  Belted  King-fisher  live  I 

This  bird  is  found  in  most  parts  of  the  United  Slates 
where  there  are  rivers,  seas  or  lakes. 

In  what  situation  does  the  King-fisher  make  its  neat ! 

The  Kimr-fisher  makes  its  nest  in  the  ground.  The 
female  finds  a  sandy  place  on  the  bank  of  the  river  or 
lake,  and  there  digs  a  hole  with  her  bill  and  claws,  three 
or  four  feet  into  the  bank.  Into  this  hole  she  carries 
some  grass,  and  on  it  lays  her  eggs,  and  hatches  her 
young. 

The  King-fisher  is  among  the  most  beautiful  of  our 
bird-.  He  may  be  seen  on  almost  any  summer's  da\ , 
silling  on  some  dry  tree  or  po-i  near  the  water's  edge, 
glancing  his  <|tiick  and  piercing  eye  in  even,  direction. 
in  search  of  the  lillle  fish  that  swim  near  the  sur! 
When  he  sees  one  that  suits  him,  he  darls  down,  catches 
and  swallows  it  in  an  instant,  and  then  Hies  hack,  and 
qnietl)  takes  his  stalion  again.  He  loves  to  visit  brawl- 
ing brooks,  and  Midi  little  casra'dr-  a-  are  made  by  mill- 
dams,  and  when  he  has  no  luck  in  fishing  at  one  station, 
he  flies  swiftly  to  another.  Sometimes  in  his  flight,  he 
clops,  and  balancing  himself  by  a  rapid  motion  of  the 
wings,  he  dives,  and  having  caught  and  swallowed  a 
little  fish,  away  he  goes  again. 
7 


THE  CONDOR. 

There  is  fortunately  but  one  species  of  this  terrible  bird, 
and  although  it  is  of  the  Vulture  kind,  it  differs  so  much 
in  size  and  habits,  from  the  rest  of  the  species,  aa  gener- 
ally to  be  described  by  itself. 

What  kind  of  a  bird  a  the  Condor ! 

The  Condor  is  a  bird  of  the  Vulture  kind,  and  is  much 
the  largest  and  most  powerful  of  that  voracious  and  dis- 
gusting tribe. 

I  low  large  if  this  bird  ) 

The  length  of  the  Condor  is  about  five  feet,  and  his 
extent,  with  the  wings  spread,  from  twelve  to  fourteen 
feet. 

What  if  the  color  of  this  bird  ! 

The  color  of  bis  back  and  wings  is  black,  and  the 
breast  and  neck  are  dark  brown. 

Are  the  head  and  neck  of  this  bird  covered  with  feathers,  or  naked  ! 

The  head  and  upper  part  of  the  neck  are  naked,  or 
only  coven-d  with  down  ;  but  the  lower  partof  the  neck 
is  surrounded  with  thick  feathers,  resembling  hair. 

In  what  country  is  this  bird  found  ' 

The  Condor  is  found  only  in  South  America. 

Where  doe*  the  female  build  her  nest ! 

The  female  builds  her  nest  in  the  highest  mountains, 
where  men  can  approach  only  with  the  greatest  difficulty 
and  danger.  She  raises  but  two  young  birds  in  each 

\ear. 

Does  this  bird  appear  ferocious  or  innocent  ! 

The  Condor,  in  appearance,  is  one  of  the  mosl  terrible 
of  all  birds.  His  great  sixe,  his  hooked  bill,  his  naked 
head,  his  tremendous  daw-,  and  the  gieat  comb  which 
grows  on  his  head,  all  together,  make  him  a  most  fright- 
ful looking  animal. 

How  many  toes  has  the  Condor  .' 

This  bird  has  four  toes  on  each  fool,  three  of  them 
standing  forward  and  one  backward.  They  are  armed 
with  long,  black,  sharp  claws,  with  which  he  ran  make 
the  most  dreadful  wounds. 


42 


THE    CONDOR. 


THE  CONDOR. 


The  Condor  is  not  less  ferocious  in  his  manners,  than 
he  appears  to  be  by  his  looks.  He  destroys  without  dis- 
tinction any  living  creature  that  he  can  master,  and  his 
wings  are  so  large  and  his  strength  so  great,  that  it  is 
said  he  can  carry  off  a  sheep  or  calf,  without  difficulty. 
Even  men  are  afraid  of  his  approach,  and  shun  him  as 
they  would  a  wolf  or  tiger. 


A  writer  who  travelled  in  South  America,  stales  that 
he  one  day  saw  a  Condor  seated  on  a  high  rock,  and 
having  approached  within  gun-shot,  he  fired  at  him; 
but  his  gun  being  only  loaded  with  shot,  the  bird  was 
not  brought  to  the  ground,  but  flew  to  another  place. 
The  traveller  then  loaded  his  gun  with  a  bullet,  and 
fired  at  him  again,  when  he  fell  to  the  ground  mortally 


T  II  K    V  U  L  T  U  R  K  . 


wounded.  On  i;oinir  io  linn,  tin-  L'enileman  found  that 
lit-  was  re, idy  to  defend  himself  ill  the  most  ferocious  and 
formidable  manner,  ami  \v;i~  i.hli-red  (o  call  the  help  of 
another  IIKUI,  befoie  he  could  conquer  so  terrihle  an 
animal, 

The  \viiiLr-  of  this  liinl,  say  the  traveller,  \vere  twelve 

t,  three  inches,  from  one  lip  In  (lie  nlhei.      The  <|llills 

were    of  ,1    heaiitiful  shining    black,   and   two  iVet,    four 

inches  Ion::.     The  hill  wns  four  in.  ,  and  of  pro- 

portionaie  thickness  ;  its  color  \va>  black,  except  io wards 

the  end,  \\here  it  was  white.      The  head  and  neck  were 

••red  with   a  short  down  of  a  brown  color,  nnd  the 

-    were    hlark,  surrounded    with    a    circle   of  reddish 

brown.   Tin-  feathers  of  the  hreast,  neck,  head  and  wings, 

were  of  a  brown  color;  those  on  the  bark  were  darker. 

The  h  L:-  weie  c-i.vi  red  with  brown  feather*  to  the  ki 

Tin-  ihiiih-hones  were  ten  inches  long,   and  those  of  the 

live  inche^  long. 

In  the  desert-*  of  Pachomac,  in  South  America. 
Dr.  (ioldsmiili,  where  this  liird  is  chiefly  to  be  seen,  men 
seldom  venture  in  ir.ivel.  Those  wild  regions  nre  suffi- 
cient of  themselves  to  inspire  a  secret  horror;  broken 
precipices,  prowling  panthers,  forests  only  vocal  with  the, 
hissinir  of  serpents,  nnd  mountains  rendered  still  more 
terrihle  by  the  Condor,  the  only  bird  that  venimes  to 
make  iis  residence  in  those  desolated  regions. 

Surely,  in  (he  history  of  this  terrible  bird,  we  cnn  sec 
the  kind  provision  of  a  merciful  Creator  towards  man. 
I(  produces  only  two  young  in  a  year,  while  some  birds 
which  an-  harmless  and  useful,  produce  thirty  or  forty 
yoiinir  iu  the  same  time.  The  Condor  lives  only  in  a 
certain  part  of  South  America,  while  the  birds  that  are 
most  beneficial  to  man,  inhabit  nearly  every  part  of  the 
earth.  Now  since  all  the  birds  were  made  by  the  same 
hand,  it  is  certain  that  there  wns  a  design  in  permitting 
the  most  useful  and  harmless  to  increase  in  abundance, 
while  those  that  are  destructive  and  ferocious,  are  always 
few  in  number,  and  generally  confined  to  certain  parts 
of  the  earth.  Were  the  Condors  as  numerous  as  tin- 
pigeons,  or  the  swallows,  the  earth  would  scarcely  afford 
animals  sufficient  for  their  food,  and  even  man  himself 
would  not  be  able  to  make  good  his  defense  against  so 
strong  and  fierce  a  bird. 


THE  VULTURE. 

The  Vultures  differ  from  the  other  rapacious  birds, in 
wanting  feathers  on  the  head,  and  upper  part  of  the 
neck.  They  also  differ  from  them,  in  choosing  to  devour 
such  animals  as  they  find  already  dead,  rather  than  to 
kill  them  for  their  own  use.  There  are  several  species 


of  this  bird,  but  they  all  agree  in  their  habits  and  man- 
ners, heinij  equally  voracious  ami  unclean.  The  descrip- 
tion of  one  will  theiefore  give  a  good  idea  of  all. 


Till1.  GOLDEN  VULTURE. 

urge  ii  the  Golden  Vulture  ? 

The  (Jolden  Vulture  is  four  feet  and  a  half  long,  and 
with  the  wmgs  spread,  about  nine  feel  in  extent.  The 
lentil  of  the  upper  mandible  is  about  seven  inches,  and 
the  weight  of  the  bird  is  about  twelve  pounds. 

<  i-  the  color  of  thii  bird? 

loi  about  the  breast  and  lower  part  of  the  neck 
is  dull  red ;  it  is  black  on  the  back,  and  the  wings  and 
(ail  are  yellowish  brown. 
-  this  bird  live  1 

This  bud  is  found  in  Egypt,  Arabia  and  the  southern 
parts  of  America. 

i  if  wh.it  use  to  man  is  the  Vulture  ? 

The  Vulture,  although  a  most  unclean  and  voracious 
bird,  is  still,  in  the  hot  countries  where  it  lives,  a  very 
ii-eful  inhabitant.  It  carries  away,  and  devours,  the 
carcases  of  dead  animals,  which  would  otherwise  make 
the  air  unpleasant  and  sickly.  Of  all  animals,  this  can 
smell  its  prey  at  the  greatest  distance. 

The  Vulture  seems  to  hold  the  same  rank  among  birds, 
that  the  hyena  docs  among  quadrupeds.  In  Egypt,  and 
other  eastern  countries,  great  flocks  of  them  are  at  all 
times  seen  about  every  city,  where  they  are  of  the  great- 
est benefit  to  the  inhabitants,  by  carrying  away  all  sorts 
of  putrid  animal  matters.  So  useful  are  they,  on  this 
account,  that  no  person  is  allowed  to  kill  or  disturb  them, 
under  the  penalty  of  a  fine;  and  in  consequence  they 
become  quite  tame,  and  gentle,  hardly  moving  out  of 
the  way  of  persons  who  walk  the  streets. 

At  New  Oilcans,  and  other  southern  cities,  these  birds 
arc  seen  about  the  streets,  in  the  same  manner  as  in 
Egypt,  and  there,  also,  no  person  is  allowed  to  injure  or 
disturb  them.  They  are  protected  and  valued  for  the 
good  they  do  in  cleaning  the  streets. 

At  Brax.il,  and  other  parts  of  South  America,  it  is  pleas- 
ant to  witness  the  art  which  these  birds  display,  in  de- 
stroying the  eggs  of  the  crocodile.  In  that  country  the 
crocodile  is  one  of  the  most  terrible  of  all  animals.  He 
grows  to  the  enormous  length  of  tweniy-five,  or  even 
thirty  feet,  and  is  so  ferocious  as  to  attack  nnd  destroy 
any  land  animal  that  comes  within  his  reach.  It  is 
therefore  a  very  happy  circumstance,  and  one  in  which 
the  hand  of  an  over-ruling  Providence  is  clearly  appa- 
rent, that  the  Vulture  should  be  the  mean-  of  prevent- 
ing the  great  increase  of  so  terrible  an  annual. 

These  ferocious  monsters,  were  it  not  for  the  Vul'.un--, 
would  in  a  short  lime  become  so  mini' -ions as  to  make  it 
dangerous,  or  even  impossible,  for  men  to  inhabit  the 


44 


THE    VULTURE. 


THE  GOLDEN  VULTURE. 


country,  for  the  females  lay  from  one  to  two  hundred 
egg-s  each,  every  year. 

The  crocodiles  take  care  to  place  their  eggs  in  situa- 
tions so  secret  that  other  animals  do  not  often  find  them, 
and  having  covered  them  with  sand,  they  are  left  to  be 
hatched  by  the  heat  of  the  sun.  The  Vultures  seem  to 
understand  all  this,  and  during  the  season  of  the  year 
when  these  monstrous  animals  come  out  of  the  water  to 
deposit  their  eggs,  these  birds  are  seen  perched  on  some 
tall  tree,  wailing  the  event  of  such  a  visit.  When  one 
comes  on  the  land,  they  patiently  and  silently  watch  the 


place  to  which  she  goes,  and  keep  slil]  until  the  huge 
beast  has  laid  and  covered  her  eggs  with  the  sand,  and 
returned  to  the  water.  Then,  encouraging  each  other 
with  loud  cries,  they  all  together,  pour  down  upon  the 
nest,  hook  up  the  sand  with  their  crooked  bills,  and  in  a 
few  minutes  devour  every  egg  the  crocodile  has  left. 

Nothing  can  be  more  filthy  and  offensive  than  these 
birds.  The  food  which  they  prefer,  is  to  all  animals,  ex- 
cept the  hyena,  the  most  disagreeable  of  objects.  But 
notwithstanding  this  disgusting  appetite,  which  renders 
them  so  hateful  in  the  sight  of  men,  the  Allwise  Creator 


T  ii  K   i:  A  t;  i  i: 


has  designed  ilirm  in  answer  a  valuable  puipuse  in  the 
world.  The  ctaming  of  the  •treeta  of  cities,  in  hot  cli- 
mates, anil  the  destruction  of  llie  crocodile's  eggs,  are 
hem-fits  «i  I  i  consequence  t(j  those  wlio  inhalnl 

such  cliln 

A  knowledge  nf  ihr-v  Inn  lit-,  in  an  nniinnl  so  ob- 
noxious in  ajqie.i  <l  habits,  ought  (o  teach  us  to 
h"  \<-r\  •  ti '1'ul  how  we  pronounce  any  of  the  woiksof 
creaiiiiii  to  he  useless,  because  we  do  not  :<ee  the  design 
fur  which  they  weie  intended.  Km  we  may  he  assured, 
that  it  is  diily  our  own  ignorance,  and  want  ol  reliction, 
that  |ire\  ent  us  from  perceiving  that  the.  Creator  has  made 
nothing  except  what  is  useful,  in  one  way  01  another. 

The  Vulture  is  nientioned  in  Scripture  as  nn  uiii 
liird,  and  one  that  is  forbidden  for  food.     It  is  also  men- 
tioned in  Joh,  !?S  ;  7.     '•  Tin-re  is  a  path  which  no  fowl 
knoweih,  and  winch  the  Vulture's  eye  hath  not  seen." 

This  passage,  >a\s  Mi.-s  Hi  wlet,  alludes  to  the  art  and 
diligence  of  men  m  dicing  subterraneous  ways  throiii:li 
•  nis  and  mines,  in  order  to  acquire  (he  riches  that  are 
hid  in  tin-  IMI-OIII  of  the  eaith.  lint  though  man  is  en 
ilo\\»d  with  wiMlolii  far  hey  ond  the  beasts  of  the  field, 
and  the  fowls  «f  heaven,  man  has  never,  by  his  own  un- 
aided elioit-i.  found  the  way  to  God  and  happim  >s  1'iit  is 
groping  in  the  dark,  and  spending  his  strength  upon  that 
which  can  neither  satisfy  nor  endure.  It  is  not  until  a 
light  from  heaven  reveals  the  path  of  life,  and  divine 
grace  enables  him  to  discern  and  pursue  it,  that  man 
can  attain  the  "  fear  of  the  Lord,  which  is  true  wisdom." 


THE  EAGLE. 

This  tribe  of  birds  are  not  less  rapacious  than  those  of 
the  vulture  kind.  The  Eagles  may  readily  be  distin- 
guished from  the  vultures  by  having  their  heads  and 
necks  fully  clothed  with  feathers,  while  these  parts  of  the 
vulture  kind  are  naked.  The  claws  and  bills  of  the 
Eagles  are  sharper  and  more  hooked  than  those  of  the 
vultures.  The  Eagles  also  differ  from  the  vultures  in 
their  habit  of  killing  their  prey  for  themselves,  while  the 
vultures  generally  eat  only  such  as  they  find  already 
dead. 

Eagles  never  associate  in  flocks,  and  are  so  solitary  in 
their  habits,  that  more  than  two  of  them  are  rnreh 
together.     They  are  extremely   quick-sighted,  and  can 
see  objects  at  an  amazing  distance.     They  often  lly  at 
such  a  height  in  the  air,  as  to  be  entirely  out  of  the  sight 
of  man;  and  even  from  such  a  distance,  ihey  can  di-cern 
their   pn-y  on  the  earth,    when  they  dart   down  upon  it 
with  the  swiftness  of  an  arrow.     Their  strength 
great,  that  they  have  been  known  to  carry  away  animals 


nearly  as  heavy  as  (hemst'lves,  to  the  distance  of  forty 
miles.  Mu.,1  i  if  i  he  in  build  their  nests  in  I  lie  highest  and 
most  dill'icult  places  in  the  mountains.  The  females  of 
this  tribe  are  always  larger  and  stronger  than  the  male*. 
There  an-  m  this  1. in),  l.nt  their  habits  and 

m:iiimis  ;,,(•  Minilai,   the  chief  difference  being  in  their 
ml  color. 

Til! 
!!•  \\  lii-iii'  .1  '.Hi. I  is  tin-  (J.'Mi-n  I'.ngle  ? 

I'll--  (iolden   I'.:--;.-  is  the  largest  and  noblest  of  the 

le.   tribe.     His  length  is  three   feet  and  a  half,  and 

with  his  wings  spread.  In-  extends  ten  feet.     His  bill  is 

four    inches   long,    and    he   weighs  twelve  or  fourteen 

pounds. 

u  li.it  is  tho  color  of  this  bird  ? 

The  color  of  his  head  and  neck  is  deep  brown  ;  along 
the  breast  it  is  yellowish  brown,  and  on  the  back,  it  is  a 
darker  shade  of  the  same  color.  The  bill  is  deep  blue, 
and  the  legs  yellow. 

Wh.it  can  be  laid  of  the  feet  and  lega  of  this  bird  .' 

The  legs  of  this  Eagle  are  covered  with  feathers  to  the 
toes,  and  are  verv  large  and  strong.  The  toes  are  cover- 
ed with  scales,  and  armed  with  the  most  terrible  claws, 
the  middle  one  being  two  inches  long. 

Where  does  the  Golden  Eagle  live  .' 

This  king  of  birds  is  found  in  almost  every  country, 
but  never  in  any  considerable  numbers  at  the  same  place. 

How  lon£  docs  the  Eagle  live  > 

It  is  said  that  the  Eagle  lives  to  the  age  of  an  hundred 
years,  and  that  he  then  does  not  die  of  old  age,  but  in 
consequence  of  the  growing  of  his  bill  inward,  so  that  he 
cannot  eat.  An  Eagle  died  at  Vienna,  that  was  known 
to  have  been  in  confinement  upwards  of  an  hundred 
years. 

The  Eagle,  among  birds,  is  what  the  lion  is  among 
quadrupeds.  His  strength  and  swiftness  give  him  the 
mastery  over  nearly  all  the  feathered  creation.  Like  the 
lion,  the  Eagle  is  said  to  be  generous,  and  sometimes  so 
merciful  as  not  to  attack  small  and  weak  animals,  when 
he  can  find  those  that  are  lamer  and  stronger.  It  is  not 
until  he  has  long  suffered  the  insulting  cries  of  the  rook 
and  magpie,  (hat  this  noble  bird  thinks  fit  to  punish 
them  for  their  folly.  Like  the  lion,  the  Eagle  disdains 
to  share  hi*  plunder  with  any  other  animal  ;  and,  unless 
pressed  with  hunger,  will  not  eat  any  thing  which  he  has 
not  killed  himself.  Like  him.  also,  the  Eagle  is  solitary, 
always  driving  away  all  other  rapacious  birds,  find  keep- 
ing the  desert  where  he  lives  to  himself.  It  is  as  un- 
common to  see  two  paiis  nl  K.-J  s  in  the  same  moun- 
tain, as  it  is  to  see  two  lions  in  the  Mine  desert.  The 
lion  and  the  Etgle  have  both  fierce,  sparkling  eyes; 
their  claws  are  of  the  same  form,  and  (he  cry  of  both  is 


46 


THE    EAGLE. 


THE  GOLDEN  EAGLE. 


equally  terrible  to  the  beasts  of  the  forest  and  the  fowls 
of  the  air. 

The  Eagle  is  tamed  with  great  difficulty  ;  and  even 
when  taken  young  and  treated  with  kindness,  will  some- 
times turn  upon  his  master,  and  wound  him  in  a  terrible 
manner. 

Of  all  birds,  the  Eagle  flies  the  highest,  and  can  see 
to  the  greatest  distance  ;  but  his  sense  of  smelling  is  not 
so  good  as  that  of  the  Vulture.  He  is  so  strong,  as  to  fly 
away  with  lambs,  kids,  geese,  and  sometimes  even  with 
children.  In  Scotland,  a  child  happening  to  be  at  play 
out  of  doors,  an  Eagle  flew  down,  took  it  up,  and  carried 
it  to  his  nest.  But  fortunately,  the  poor  infant  received 
no  injury  on  the  journey,  and  the  affrighted  parents  pur- 
suing after  the  robber,  went  to  the  nest  in  time  to  take 
it  away,  before  it  was  in  the  least  hurt. 

The  Eagle  is  at  all  times  powerful  and  ferocious,  but 
is  particularly  so  at  the  time  when  he  is  bringing  up  his 
young.  At  this  time  the  pair  make  use  of  all  their 


courage,   strength,  and  fierceness,  in    order  to  provide 
meat  for  their  brood. 

The  quantity  of  provision  which  these  birds  carry  to 
their  young,  is  sometimes  sufficient  to  maintain  a  family. 
Mr.  Smith,  in  his  history  of  Kerry,  a  county  in  Ireland, 
relates  that  during  a  season  of  famine,  a  poor  man 
obtained  nourishment  for  himself  and  children  by  rob- 
bing a  pair  of  young  eagles  of  the  food  which  was 
brought  them  by  their  parents.  When  the  young  birds 
became  large  enough  to  fly,  the  poor  man  clipped  their 
wings,  so  as  to  keep  them  in  the  nest,  and  thus  make 
the  old  ones  continue  to  bring  them  food.  In  this  man- 
ner was  this  poor  family  supported,  with  kids,  lambs, 
geese,  and  hens,  during  the  summer. 

It  was  fortunate  for  this  man,  that  the  Eagles  never 
caught  him  at  their  nest,  for  had  this  been  the  case,  his 
life  would  have  been  in  danger  from  their  fury,  as  may 
be  seen  by  the  following  story. 

A  man   in  the  county  of  Kerry  determined  to  rob  an 


TH  K     I-'  1  S  il-ll    \  \v  K  . 


Eagle's  in-st,  which  was  on  an  island,  of  its  young.  He 
"rdingly  swam  to  the  i>l;iml.  al  a  lime  when  lie  saw 
llial  the  old  Imils  were  awax  ,  and  having  secured  (lie 
yomii:  onev.  \\asieiuriiiiig  in  tin-  land,  hax  mi;  wailed 
into  tin:  wain  nearly  up  to  In-  neck.  At  thi^  moment 
tin-  old  Kai;le>  relumed,  anil  fimlmi;  that  tlirir  young 
were  mil  in  the  nest,  but  in  the  hands  of  llu-  man.  lhe\ 
fell  upon  him  with  such  tiemendous  fury  as  to  kill  him 
in  the  water. 

The  nest  of  the  Eagle  is  commonly  l>uilt  among  moun- 
tains, and  in  places  win-re  it  is  most  difficult  for  men  to 
ml.  It  is  cousii  ucieil  wiih  much  labor,  being  about 
six  feet  a.  I".—,  .mil  coniaimiiir  more  tlian  a  cart-load  of 
tlix  slicks,  and  the  roots  of  trees.  These  liirds.it  is  said, 
never  build  hut  one  nest,  but  continue  to  occupy  (lie 
same,  repairing  it  from  year  to  year,  as  long  as  they  live. 
The  nesi  is  nol  hollow,  like  those  of  other  birds,  but  flat 
on  the  top.  The  eggs  are  only  two  in  number,  and  it  is 
often  the  case,  that  only  one  of  these  is  hatched. 

Th>-  Eagle  is  often  alluded  lo  in  the  Scriptures,  and 
sometimes  m  a  very  mlereslmLT  and  sinking  manner. 

The  fifty-ninth  chapter  of  Job  contains  a  description 
of  the  halms  of  i his  bin!,  which  is  wonderfully  true  and 
ime.  "  Doth  the  Eagle,"  says  Jehovah  to  Job, 
"mount  up  at  thy  rommaml,  and  make  her  nest  on 
high  ?  Shi:  dwelleth  and  abidethon  the  rock,  upon  the 
crag  of  the  rock,  and  the  strong  place.  From  thence  she 
sct-keth  the  prey,  and  her  eyes  behold  afar  off;  her 
you  ii:;  on.-  also  suck  up  blood,  and  where  the  slain  are, 
there  is  she.'' 

In  this  striking  description,  says  Miss  Hewlet.are  dis- 
played huih  ili-  wisdom  and  greatness  of  the  Creator, 
and  the  insignificance  and  impotence  of  man.  Man 
cannot  control  the  movements  of  the  Eagle,  nor  direct 
his  flight ;  nor  did  he  derive  from  man  his  desire,  or 
strength  to  soar  among  the  clouds,  nor  his  choice  of  (he 
inaccessible  precipice  for  his  abode.  His  vigorous  frame, 
hi^  daring  temper,  and  all  his  instincts,  are  the  contri- 
vance and  the  work  of  God.  The  design  of  the  Creator 
in  din-dim,'  (he  Kaule  thus  to  build  is  obvious.  On  the 
brow  of  the  precipice,  this  king  of  the  feathered  race, 
and  this  terror  of  the  smaller  quadrupeds,  dwells  in  soli- 
tary securiiy,  and  rears  his  young  almost  beyond  the 
reach  of  danger. 

The  great  height  to  which  the  Eagle  flies,  and  the 
lofty  places  in  which  she  builds  her  nest,  are  figurative 
of  the  proud  and  lofty  manner  in  which  sinners  some- 
times lift  llremselxes  up,  when  they  seem  to  think  that 
they  are  above  the  reach  of  calamity  or  misfortune. 
But  though  they  exalt  themselves  as  high  as  the  Eagle's 
flight,  and  hide  themselves  in  places  as  secure  as  her 
nest,  yet,  if  they  provoke  the  righteous  indignation  of 


(iod,  he  will  assuredly  bring  them  down,  and  in  his  own 
lime  level  them  with  the  dust  of  the  earth. 

The  swiftness  of  this  bird  through  the  air,  is  alluded 
to  in  the  hook  of  Job,  as  a  figure  of  the  rapid  flight  of 
time.  ••  My  d.ixs  are  passed  away  as  the  swift  ships,  as 
the  Ea^'le  that  hasteth  io  his  prey."  Job  9  ;  26. 

In  another  place  the  (light  of  this  bird  is  mentioned  as 

an  i  mlilem    of  (he  uncertainty   of  worldly   possessions. 

'•  Kiches  certainly  make  to  themselves  wings,  they  fly 

-  .m    Kagle  towards  heaven."     Proverbs  23 ;  5. 

This  may  remind  worldly  men,  that  after  all  their 
pains  to  lay  up  money,  then-  n  no  certainly,  that  even 
in  this  world,  their  ill-gotten  wealth  will  be  of  any  per- 
inanent  advantage  to  them,  for  their  riches  may  all  al 
once  fly  away  und  leave  them  in  poverty.  A  good  les- 
son to  the  expectations  of  mortal  creatures,  and  a  warn- 
ing, that  if  they  would  possess  durable  riches,  they  must 
lay  up  their  treasure.-  m  heaven. 

The  strength  and  wide  spreading  wings  of  this  bird 
are  alluded  to  in  the  Scriptures,  in  comparison  with  the 
care,  which  the  Lord  took  of  his  chosen  people.  "Ye 
have  seen  what  I  did  unto  Egypt,  and  how  I  bare  you 
on  Eagles'  wings,  and  brought  you  unto  myself.  Exo- 
dus 19;  4.  Again,  in  another  passage,  it  is  written, 
''  As  the  Eagle  stirreih  up  her  nest,  fluttered!  over  her 
young,  spreadeth  abroad  her  wings,  taketh  them,  bearelh 
them  on  her  wings;  so  the  Lord  alone  did  lead  him,  and 
there  was  no  strange  god  with  him."  Deuteronomy 
32;  11. 

These  passages  both  refer  to  the  manner  in  which  tin- 
Lord  supported  tin-  children  of  Israel,  and  led  them  out 
of  their  bondage  in  the  land  of  Egypt. 

i  in.-  reflection,  in  the  language  of  Miss  Hewlet,  shall 
close  what  we  have  to  say  concerning  the  eagle.  "  The 
<  'In  i-tian,  like  the  Eagle,  should  soar  in  the  daily  exer- 
cise of  his  faith,  and  contemplation,  to  (he  glorious  real- 
ities of  an  invisible  world;  be  ought  to  have  no  com- 
munion with  the  earth,  nor  be  dragged  down  to  inferior 
objects,  nor  grovel  in  the  dust;  but  always  mount  up- 
wards, and  gaze  with  Eagles'  eyes  on  the  Sun  of  Right- 
eousness." 


THK   KiSII-HAU'K. 

[THii  bird  ii  alto  called  Ihr  Fuhinf  Eagle.] 
II  .w  large  ii  the  Fish  Hawk  ? 

The  Fish  Hawk  is  two  feet  long,  and  five  feet  and  a 

half  in  extent. 

What  is  ih.  .-..lor  of  this  bird  .' 

His  color,  on  the  head,  is  brown,  spotted  with  white ; 
the  back,  tail  and  wings  are  daik  brown,  and  the  throat, 
hrea»t  and  under  parts,  are  while. 


48 


THE    FISH-HAWK. 


THE  FISH-HAWK. 


Where  does  this  bird  live  ? 

The  Fish  Hawk  is  found  in  Europe  and  in  America. 
He  resides  chiefly  on  the  sea  coasts,  and  about  large 
rivers  and  lakes. 

What  is  the  food  of  this  bird  ? 

His  food  consists  entirely  of  fish,  which  he  catches  by 
diving  into  the  water. 

Where  does  this  bird  build  its  nest  ? 

The  nest  of  this  bird  is  built  on  the  top  of  some  dead 
or  decaying  tree,  and  is  so  large  as  to  be  seen  at  a  great 
distance. 

The  Fish  Hawk  migrates  to  the  south  on  the  approach 
of  winter,  and  returns  to  our  coasts  again  in  the  spring. 
His  appearance  in  the  spring  is  hailed  by  the  fishermen 
as  indicating  the  arrival  of  the  herring,  shad,  and  other 
fish. 

The  habits  of  this  bird  are  harmless  and  sociable.  He 
often  builds  within  a  short  distance  of  houses,  and  is  pro- 
tected and  valued  by  the  farmers,  on  account  of  the  good 
he  does  in  driving  the  crows  and  black-birds  out  of  the 
neighborhood. 

During  the  time  when  the  female  is  sitting  on  her  eggs, 
the  male  is  very  attentive  to  her,  and  often  supplies  her 
with  fish.  In  aninstance  where  the  female  had  lost  one 
of  her  feet,  so  that  she  could  not  well  fish  for  herself,  the 
male  constantly  supplied  her  with  provision,  so  that  she 
never  left  her  nest  to  seek  food  for  herself.  For  several 
seasons,  this  kindness  was  observed  by  the  people  who 
lived  near  the  nest. 

They  watch  their  young  with  much  tenderness,  one  of 
the  pair  staying  about  the  nest,  and  keeping  guard  over 
them,  while  the  other  goes  out  to  bring  them  a  supply 
of  provisions.  On  the  approach  of  any  person  at  this 
time,  the  old  birds  seem  in  much  distress,  and  utter  a 
plaintive  cry,  at  the  same  time  taking  wing,  and  sailing 


around  the  nest.  Sometimes,  also,  they  dive  down,  as 
though  to  attack  the  person,  but  usually  mount  up  again 
without  coming  very  near  him.  In  some  instances, 
however,  they  have  been  known  to  attack  persons  who 
have  climbed  up  to  their  nest,  and  to  wound  them  in  a 
terrible  manner. 

The  actions  of  this  bird  during  a  fishing  excursion,  and 
the  manner  in  which  he  seizes  his  prey,  are  quite  inter- 
esting. When  he  leaves  his  nest  on  such  an  occasion, 
he  goes  directly  to  the  fishing  ground,  flying  in  a  straight 
line,  and  not  very  high  in  the  nir.  Having  come  to  the 
water,  he  rises  two  hundred  feet  or  more  into  the  air,  and 
sails  elegantly  and  slowly  along,  eyeing  the  face  of  the 
deep,  in  search  of  his  game.  Suddenly  he  stops,  to  sur- 
vey more  particularly  any  fish  that  he  happens  to  see, 
but  generally  glides  along  again  in  a  moment  or  two. 
Again  he  stops,  and  balancing  himself  by  flapping  his 
wings,  looks  intently  into  the  water,  now  and  then  rising 
or  sinking  a  little,  as  if  to  obtain  a  better  view  of  his  ob- 
ject. Having  taken  his  aim,  he  now  descends  from  his 
great  height,  with  the  swiftness  of  a  leaden  bullet,  and 
plunging  into  the  water  with  aloud  rustling  sound,  buries 
himself  for  a  moment  under  its  surface.  He  then  rises, 
with  his  struggling  prey  hanging  on  his  claws,  and  when 
a  few  feet  high,  stops  and  flutters  to  shake  (he  water 
from  him,  which  flies  in  the  form  of  spray  in  every  di- 
rection. Having  thus  prepared  himself  for  his  flight,  he 
shapes  his  course  directly  for  the  land,  and  quietly  eats 
his  fish,  sitting  on  the  limb  of  a  dry  tree,  or  carries  it  to 
his  young. 

It  sometimes  happens,  however,  that  the  Fish  Hawk 
is  neither  permitted  to  eat  his  prey  himself,  nor  carry  it 
to  his  young,  but  is  obliged  to  yield  it  up  to  the  bald  eagle, 
who  generally  lives  by  robbing  the  present  species. 


THE    FALCON. 


While  tin1  Fi-h  Hawk  is  ;it  \V(irk,  na  above  d< •>. -i  ibed, 
in  order  in  provide  for  himself  or  family,  the.  la/.y  bald 
cii^lc  is  comfortably  seated  on  sonic  dr\  tin-  m  the 

neighborhood.    Watching   Ills     mol|..n-',     and    expec! 

good  mi-ill  whi -never  hid  labors  ,-nc  successful.  Now  anil 
then,  while  tin-  industrious  Fish  Hawk  is  pursuing;  Ins 
pivy,  tins  indolent  piialf  shakes  his  feathers,  lyul  pre- 
pares his  wmurs  for  .tin-  pursuit,  (he  instant,  he  shall  see 
the  good  luck  of  his  neighbor. 

When,  therefore,  the  Fi-h  Hawk  rises  with  his  prey, 
_:le  he-ins  the  chase.  The  Fish  Hawk  often  seem-. 
to  know  that  his  enemy  is  in  the  neighborhood,  and 
therefore  the  moment  he  comes  out  of  the  water,  tries  to 
avoid  the  rohher,  hy  rising  as  fa-t  as  possible  into  the  nir. 
This  he  does  by  making  small  circles,  ^radualh 
upward  in  the  form  of  a  screw.  The  eagle,  meantime, 
exerts  all  his  strength  and  swiftness,  in  attempting  to 
•i,ve  the  other,  and  in  this  manner  the  contest  is 
sometimes  continued  for  half  an  hour,  or  mure,  the  Hawk 
coiM.'iuly  -.reaming,  in  a  loud  and  distressing 
At  last  the  pur-ned,  finding  that  his  enemy  has  gained 


upon  him,  and   that,   with  all    his   exertions,  he  cannot 

.  dioj,-  the  |Mi,  \\hicli  i-  nearly  in  everv    m-taiire 

can- hi    l.y  tin-  fflfjle,  hel'oie   it  leaches  the  ground;   and 

thus   the  poor  hungry  Hawk  is  left  to  do  his  work 
again. 

The  conduct  of  the  bald  eagle  ii  an  apt  emhlcmof  ihe 

course  pursued  h\  certain  men  in  tin-  \\oiKI.  For  how 
often  do  we  see  persons,  who  an-  themselves  lazy  and 
worthless,  liviiiL-  comfoital.lx  on  the  earnings  of  indiii- 
trious  ami  hard  working  people.  Perhaps  these  per- 
sons are  not  guilty  of  robbing  outright,  or  of  cheating  in 
-iich  a  manner  as  to  be  brought  before  the  magistrate, 
and  ,)imished  according  to  law.  But  they  contrive  in 
take  advantage:  of  the  ignorant  and  laborious,  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  get  into  their  own  hands  most  of  their  earn- 
ings, and  thus  to  live  in  idleness  on  the  sweat  of  anoth- 
er's face.  Such  vile  and  deceitful  conduct  may  possibly 
en-ape  punishment  jn  this  world  ;  but  that  God,  who 
of  men,  and  knows  all  their  secret  ac- 
tions, will  most  assuredly  punish  such  injustice  at  the 
day  of  final  account. 


THE  FALCON. 


Till.  SECRETARY  KALCON. 


The  Falcon  is  another  of  the  Rapacious  tribes  of  hi  id-. 
They  agree  with   the  eaL'lo    in  having  their    head-   and 
covered  with  feathers,  and  in  having  sharp  hooked 
hills  ami  strong  claws.     They  are,  in  general,  much 
smaller  than  th  hut  like  them  they  live  by  catch- 

ing game,  which  commonly  consists  of  the  smaller  birds 
8 


of  the  fore=t.  Some  of  them  visit  the  farm  yard 
carry  oil'  the  chicken?,  and  one  variety  lives  chiefly  on 
serpents.  These  birds  are  more  commonly  Known  under 
the  name  of  Hawks.  There  are  many  vanetie-of  them, 
but  with  one  or  two  exceptions,  they  agree  very  nearly 
in  form  and  habits. 


50 


THE    FALCON. 


THE  SECRETARY  FALCON. 
How  large  a  bird  is  the  Secretary  Falcon  ? 

The  Secretary  Falcon  is  one  of  the  largest  of  this 
tribe,  being  about  three  feet  high  from  the  ground  to  his 
head. 

What  is  the  form  of  this  bird  ? 

In  form  this  bird  resembles  both  the  eagle  and  the 
crane.  Its  head  and  bill  are  like  those  of  the  eagle, 
while  its  legs  and  body  are  similar  to  those  of  the  crane. 

Why  is  this  bird  called  Secretary  Falcon  ? 

This  bird  is  called  Secretary  Falcon,  because  there 
grow  from  the  back  of  his  head  several  long  feathers, 
which  make  him  look  like  a  secretary,  or  writer,  with 
his  pen  placed  behind  his  ear. 

Where  is  this  bird  found  ? 

The  Secretary  Falcon  lives  in  Africa  and  Asia,  but  has 
not  been  seen  wild  in  any  other  country. 

What  is  its  color  ? 

Its  color  on  the  back  and  breast  is  bluish  white  ;  the 
tail  is  ash  colored,  except  near  the  end,  where  it  is  black  ; 
around  the  eyes,  the  color  is  deep  orange. 

On  what  food  does  this  bird  live  ? 

This  Falcon  lives  chiefly  on  serpents,  in  the  taking  of 
which  he  displays  a  great  deal  of  cunning. 

It  would  appear  from  the  habits  of  this  singular  bird, 
that  Providence  had  designed  him  as  one  of  the  means  of 
preventing  the  great  increase  of  serpents  in  those  hot  cli- 
mates, where  he  is  chiefly  to  be  found.  In  seizing  these 
dangerous  reptiles,  this  bird  always  has  regard  for  his 
own  safety.  When  he  conies  to  a  serpent,  he  is  always 
careful  to  carry  the  point  of  one  of  his  wings  forward,  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  prevent  the  reptile  from  wounding 
his  flesh  with  his  poisonous  teeth.  Sometimes  he  takes 
the  serpent  on  one  of  his  wings,  and  throws  it  into  the 
air,  and  after  having  worried  it  in  this  way  fora  time,  he 
takes  the  first  safe  opportunity  of  despatching  it,  by  a 
single  blow  on  the  head  with  his  bill.  He  then  makes  a 
comfortable  meal  of  his  fallen  enemy,  at  his  leisure. 

This  Falcon  is  easily  tamed,  and  when  domesticated, 
will  eat  any  kind  of  food,  whether  raw  or  cooked.  If 
well  fed,  he  will  not  only  live  with  hens  and  chickens,  on 
friendly  terms,  but  when  he  sees  any  of  them  quarreling, 
will  run  and  part  them,  and  restore  order  and  harmony 
in  the  poultry  yard.  If,  however,  he  is  neglected,  and 
becomes  hungry,  he  will  satisfy  his  appetite  from  among 
the  chickens  with  which  he  had  lived  on  such  kind  and 
familiar  terms. 

THE  COMMON  FALCON. 

[This  bird  has  also  been  called  Gentil  Falcon.'] 
How  large  is  the  Common  Falcon  ? 

The  Common  Falcon  is  about  two  feet  long,  from  the 
bill  to  the  end  of  the  tail ;  but  the  body  is  small  and 
light,  only  weighing  three  or  four  pounds. 


THE  COMMON  FALCON. 
What  color  is  this  bird  ? 

The  color  of  his  beak  is  reddish  ;  the  head  and  neck 
are  brown,  with  black  spots  ;  the  back  and  wings  are 
brown ;  the  tail  is  striped  across  with  black  and  ash 
color,  and  tipped  with  white. 

Where  is  this  bird  found  ? 

This  Falcon  is  found  in  Scotland,  France,  and  other 
parts  of  Europe. 

What  is  the  shape  of  this  bird  ? 

The  shape  of  this  Falcon  is  similar  to  that  of  the  eagle 
only  that  the  bill  is  still  more  hooked,  and  the  whole  ap- 
pearance of  the  bird  is  more  slender  and  sprightly.  His 
legs  and  feet  are  exceedingly  strong,  and  his  wings 
very  long  and  powerful,  in  proportion  to  the  weight  of 
his  body. 

Formerly  this  bird  was  tamed,  and  taught  to  catch 
other  birds,  for  the  use  of  his  master.  The  training  of 
the  Falcon  for  this  purpose,  was  called  Falconry,  and 
the  hunting  with  him  was  called  Hawking. 

Among  the  ancient  nobility  of  England,  hawking  was 
considered  as  the  most  noble  and  princely  of  all  sports. 
Falconry,  or  the  training  of  the  Hawk,  was,  therefore, 
a  business  of  gteat  importance.  The  king's  Falconer, 
or  the  man  who  took  care  of  his  Hawks,  was  among  the 
most  dignified  officers  of  his  household,  and  the  expense 
attending  this  sport  was  so  great,  that  none  but  men  of 
wealth  could  afford  to  indulge  themselves  in  it.  During 
these  times,  a  pair  of  Hawks  sometimes  sold  fora  thou- 
sand dollars,  our  money,  and  in  one  instance,  even  five 
thousand  dollars  were  paid  for  an  extraordinary  brace  of 
these  birds. 

At  the  present  day,  we  look  with  pity  and  contempt 
on  such  silly  and  wicked  extravagance  ;  and  yet  in  our 
own  times,  we  have  many  fashions,  which,  if  they  are 


T  11  i:   i   \  LCON. 


51 


not  ns  cxp  -.re  fully  as  ridiculous,  and  which  will 

l>c  looked  iijioii  by  future  ijenerafions,  wilh  equal  con- 
tempt and  pity. 

The  Kali-oil  is  :i  bird  of  vei  \  extiaordiiian  \<  rocity, 
courage  and  strength.  When  l.ntied,  and  trained  for 

hawking,  lie  is,  however,  under  the  i iplcle  command 

of  his  in  IS|,T,  and  when  taken  out  for  sporl,  was  carried 
siltini:  on  Ins  hand. 

These  birds  would  fly  wilh  such  force,  and  knew  so 
well  in  what  part  to  Mnke  their  game,  that  they  would 
pounce  upon  any  other  Itird,  however  large.  The  stork, 
the  In  ion,  and  tin:  crane,  each  of  whirli  is  tu  o  or  three 
time-  il,,.  .;,/.,.  ,,1'ihe  Falcon,  were  their  coinuion  game. 
They  alwavs  struck  their  prey  under  the  wing,  and  ill  a 
few  minutes  so  disabled  it  with  their  beaks  and  claws,  as 
to  bring  it  to  the  ground. 

If  the  Falcon  did  not  succeed  in  sti  iking  his  game,  lie 
always  returned,  anil  took  his  seal  again  on  the  Falcon- 
er's hand;  hut  when  the  name  was  struck  to  the  ground, 
he  staid  and  kept  il  down  until  hi-  master  came  and  took 
il  from  him. 

Tip-  training  of  these  wild  and  ferocious  birds,  so  as  to 
make  them  ily  and  retuin  as  occasion  required,  and  lobe 
under  the  entire  command  of  their  in  quired 

much  time  and  expni,  nee.  Mm  made  this  kind  of  in- 
struction the  business  of  iheir  lives,  and  often  became 
rich  by  the  sale  of  their  birds.  This  kind  of  instruction 
:ideed,  at  one  time  considered  a  matter  of  so  much 
importance,  that  books,  almost  without  number  have 
been  wiiiiin  on  the  \,,-~(  methods  of  training  n  Haw  k. 

\\  r.inni>i  here  go  fully  into  this  subject,  but  pcihaps 
a  shoit  account  "I  the  common  mode  of  training  these 
birds  may  iriai.l'v  some  of  our  young  readers.  It  is  in- 
deed an  interesting  part  of  natural  history,  to  inquire  how 
•  lure  and  habits  of  animals  can  be  chair..  <1  hy  (In- 
discipline of  man. 

The  fn-i  IC-MIII  which  the  Falconer  taught  his  bird, 
'.<)  submit  patiently  to  be  blindfolded,  or  lo  have  his 
eyes  covered  fiom  the  light.  This  was  done  cliie Ily  by 
starving  the  poor  bird  until  lie  made  no  resistance  to 
having  IUM  hood  put  on  or  taken  off.  As  a  reward  for 
such  <jiiiei  submission,  he  was  always  fed  wilh  some 

delicate  r>el,  and  thus  gradually  became  attached  lo 

his  instructor. 

After  the  fir-t  l.--.>n  had  Micceeded,  the  bird  was  carri- 
ed out  of  door-,  the  hood  taken  off,  and  by  means  of  food 
and  peisiiasion,  he  was  taught  to  jump  on  the  hand  of 
his  master,  and  to  sil  quietly  there.  Al'let  this  he  wa< 
made  acquainted  with  the  lure.  The  lure  was  the  skin 
of  a  bird  stuffed  ;  and  care  was  taken  that  it  should  be 
of  the  kind  which  it  was  intended  the  Falcon  should  pur- 
sue for  gam*-,  when  he  actually  in  Hawking. 
On  this  there  was  placed  some  delicate  food,  which  the 


II  i\\k  was  permitted  to  eat.  The  use  ()f  i|,P  food  Wn.i  lo 
tliillei  the  bud  to  come  back,  alter  lie  bail  flown  into  the 
air  and  also  lo  attach  him  to  the  living  binl,  winch  (In- 
line represented,  when  he  should  be  permitted  to  fly  at 
it  in  the  field. 

During  the  period  of  this  inslruclion,  the  Hawk  was 
lied  with  a  long  siring,  so  that  he  could  notescnpe;  and 
after  the-r  I,  .--.ins  had  been  many  limes  repealed  and 
properly  learned,  the  bird  wns  shown  the  live  game  in- 
stead of  the  lure,  but  so  tied  thai  il  could  not  escape,  and 
on  tli  |ii  im.iteil  lo  pounce. 

Afler  the  Falconer  had  exercised  his  Hawk  in  this 
manner  for  some  lime,  and  found  that  (he  bird  was  so 
attached  to  him  as  to  obey  his  call  from  a  distance,  and 
come  ami  perch  upon  his  hand  without  fear,  ho  then 
look  him  out  into  the  field  for  actual  gport. 

When  in  the  field,  the  Falconer  removed  the  hood  by 
which  his  eyes  were  covered,  nnd  gave  him  his  full  lib- 
erty, at  the  same  time  showing  him  the  game,  of  which 
the  lure  was  made.  At  this  he  would  generally  Ily  with 
a\  idity,  and  soon  bring  il  lo  the  ground  ;  when  his  mas- 
ter would  give  him  ii  large  piece  of  meat  as  a  reward  for 
his  courage.  Sometimes,  however,  he  would  take  this 
opportunity  to  escape,  never  to  return,  thus  leaving  the 
disappointed  Falconer  nothing  but  regrel  for  all  his 
pains.  Bui  more  commonly  the  ma-ter  never  gave  him 
his  freedom,  until  well  assured  of  his  attachment  and 
obedience. 

By  long  perseverance  in  this  method  of  instruction,  the 
Falcon  may  be  taught  to  fly  at  any  game  whatever,  and 
to  bring  lo  the  ground  almost  any  bird,  not  larger  than 
himself. 

Tin-  sport,  if  such  il  can  IK-  called,  consists  in  behold. 
in:;  the  ferocity  and  swiftness  wilh  which  the  attack  is 
made  ;  the  terror  and  dismay  into  which  the  game  it 
thrown  by  such  an  attack  :  and  the  art  employed  by  (he 
two  birds,  the  one  escaping  for  his  life,  and  the  other 
pursuing  to  destroy. 

Seine  particular  birds,  such   as   the  heron  and   wood- 
lark,  are  said  lo  afford  the    tim  -t  sporl  lo  the  lovers  of 
such  scenes.     These  birds,  the  moment  (bey  lind  them- 
selves pursued  by  the  Hawk,  instantly  lake  to  the  skies. 
They  tly  alnio-t   perpendicularly    upwaid-,    while    their 
rapacious  pursuer  keep-  pace  with  (In  ir  Highland  make  s 
use  of  all  his   !-trengih    of  wing,  in    trying   to  rise  ah. 
them.     As  the  spectator  watclp  .-  the  ronlesi,  both  birds 
gradually  appear  smaller,  in  proportion  as  they  j;.i  fn.ni 
him,  until  they  are  Io-l  from  his  sight  among  the  clouds. 
Hut    they    are   soon    ofter  seen  coming  down   together, 
strugirlin'j  de-peralely  wi(h  each  other,  the  one  ii. 
(he  other  to  grasp,  and  disable    his  pn-y.     But  this  iiii<  - 
qual  combat   i-  generally  soon   finished,   for  the  Falcon, 
by  means  of  his  hooked  bill,  and  ten  ible  claws,  lears  the 


52 


THE    BUZZARD. 


poor  defenceless  lark  in  such  a  manner,  as  to  disable,  or 
even  kill  it,  before  they  reach  the  ground.  This,  among 
the  lovers  of  such  cruelty,  is  called  delightful  sport. 

The  reason  why  animals  were  made  so  differently  from 
each  other  is  unknown  to  us,  and  therefore  we  have  no 
right  to  find  the  least  fault  with  the  works  of  creation. 
We  however  see  that  some  are  made  weak,  and  without 
the  least  means  of  defence,  while  others  are  strong,  and 
armed  in  a  most  powerful  manner.  We  see,  also,  that 
some  are  apparently  designed  for  the  food  of  others,  and 
there  is  no  doubt,  but  in  this,  the  Creator  consulted  the 
sum  total  of  happiness,  to  be  enjoyed  by  the  whole  brute 
creation.  Among  the  fowls  of  the  air,  as  well  as  among 
the  beasts  of  the  field,  we  see  that  one  kind  is  designed 
to  prey  upon  another  kind.  The  Falcon,  from  the  very 
fact  of  his  having  claws  for  seizing  his  prey,  a  hooked 
bill  for  teaiing  its  flesh,  and  an  appetite  for  flesh  and 
blood,  was  evidently  designed  to  live  by  the  destruction 
of  other  animals.  In  doing  this,  therefore,  he  makes  use 
of  the  only  means  in  his  power  to  satisfy  his  appetite, 
and  must  either  destroy  life  or  perish  himself. 

But  the  question  arises,  whether  man,  the  lord  of  cre- 
ated things  on  earth,  has  a  just  right  to  assist  one  animal 
in  the  cruel  destruction  of  another,  merely  for  his  own 
amusement.  The  Falcon,  when  he  pursues  the  timid 
lark,  at  the  command  of  his  master,  does  not  do  it  for  the 
purpose  of  satisfying  his  own  hunger,  or  that  of  the 
sportsman,  but  he  is  taught  to  do  this  merely  to  gratify 
the  curiosity  of  a  number  of  idle  spectators.  It  is  there- 
fore certain,  that  Hawking  is  both  unjust  and  wicked, 
because  it  gives  great  pain,  without  satisfying  any  natural 
appetite,  and  exhibits  a  scene  of  wanton  cruelty,  calcu- 
lated to  harden  the  hearts,  and  deprave  the  tastes  of  men, 
without  any  good  motive. 

THE  BUZZARD. 

What  kind  of  a  bird  is  the  Buzzard  ? 

The  Buzzard  is  a  bird  of  the  falcon  kind,  but  is  far 
less  beautiful,  and  not  so  swift,  nor  so  easily  taught  as 
the  true  falcon. 

How  large  is  this  bird  ? 

His  length  is  about  a  foot  and  a  half,  and  with  the 
wings  spread,  he  is  about  three  feet  and  a  half  in  extent. 

What  is  the  color  of  this  bird  ? 

His  back  is  of  a  dark  ash  color,  which  grows  pnler 
along  the  breast,  and  under  parts;  his  wings  and  tail  are 
marked  with  dark  colored  bars;  the  legs  are  yellowish, 
and  the  claws  black. 

What  is  the  form  of  the  Buzzard  ? 

The  form  and  appearance  of  this  bird  are  between 
those  of  the  falcon  and  the  owl.  His  body,  wings,  and 
tail  are  short,  like  those  of  the  owl,  and  his  eyes  are  sim- 
ilar to  the  owl's,  but  not  so  large.  His  legs,  claws,  and 
bill,  are  like  those  of  the  falcon. 


THE  BUZZARD. 
Where  is  this  bird  found  ? 

The  Buzzard  lives  in  most  parts  of  Europe,  and  is  also 
found  in  America. 

Is  this  bird  ever  trained  for  Hawking  ? 

This  bird  is  so  lazy  in  his  habits,  and  so  stupid  in  his 
character,  that  he  is  not  capable  of  being  taught,  like 
other  falcons,  to  fly  after  game,  and  obey  the  call  of  his 
master. 

What  is  the  food  of  the  Buzzard  ? 

The  food  of  this  bird  consists  chiefly  of  frogs,  mice,  and 
such  insects  as  he  can  catch  without  the  trouble  of  flying 
after  them. 

The  following  anecdote  of  one  of  these  birds,  is  told 
by  Buflbn,  and  was  related  to  him  by  one  of  his  friends. 
It  shows,  contrary  to  the  common  opinion,  that  the  Buz- 
zard can  be  tamed,  and  be  made  to  know  his  master,  and 
attach  himself  to  him. 

A  Buzzard  was  taken  in  a  snare,  and  given  to  Buffon's 
friend.  At  first  he  was  wild  and  ferocious,  but  on  leav- 
ing him  without  food  for  a  time,  he  became  more  tame, 
and  would  eat  out  of  the  hand.  In  about  six  weeks,  he 
became  quite  familiar,  and  was  allowed  to  go  out  of 
doors,  though  with  his  wings  tied,  to  prevent  his  flying 
away.  In  this  condition  he  walked  about  the  garden, 
and  would  return  when  called  to  be  fed. 

After  some  time  he  became  quite  tame,  and  seemed  to 
be  attached  to  his  master,  and  then  his  wings  were  un- 
tied, a  small  bell  was  attached  to  his  leg,  and  a  piece  of 
copper  was  fastened  around  his  neck,  with  the  owner's 
name  marked  on  it.  He  was  then  given  full  liberty  to 
go  where  he  pleased,  which,  however,  he  soon  abused 
by  flying  away  into  the  woods.  The  gentleman  now 
gave  up  his  Buzzard  as  lost,  but  in  four  hours  afterwards, 
he  rushed  into  the  house,  followed  by  five  other  Buzzards, 
from  whose  attacks  he  was  glad  to  seek  a  place  of  safety. 
After  this  caper  he  became  more  tame  and  familiar  than 


T  ii  i:  o  \v  i. 


.  iiiul  so  annelid)  himself  to  his  in.i-(.  r,  as  to  sleep 

e\er\  infill  in  his  bed-room.      IT    was  always  |>iv-t  n(  ;<t 

ilinii'-i.  and     ii  mi  one  corner  of  tin;  table.     Hi-   would 

'er  with  hi?  lii-;ul  and  hill,  hut   would  do 

this  to  no  other  pi 

One  das.when  I  he  gent  Imiaii  rode  on  horseback,  the 

Bonard  followed  him  several  miles,  constantly  flying 

near  him,  or  over  hi-  In  ail. 

Thi-  lunl  did  not  like  either  dogs  or  cats,  but  was  not 
in  the  least  afraid  of  them.  Sometime-  he  had  battles 
with  llie-e  animals,  hut  always  cann  nil  victorious.  To 
try  ll:  .  four  .-liong  i-als  were  collected  together 

ia  the  garden  with  the  hird,  and  soini:  raw  meat  was 
ihrowii  to  them.  The  bird  heat  (hem  all,  BO  that  they 
were  ulad  to  retreat,  and  then  look  all  (he  meat  himself. 

Tins  Bll//ard  had  Mich  a  hatred  to  red  caps,  that  he 
would  not  sutler  one  to  he  on  the  bond  of  any  person  in 
his  presence.  And  he  was  so  expert  at  taking  them  oil'. 
lie  laborers  in  the  field,  who  wore  them,  often  found 
lhem-el\es  bare-headed,  without  knowing  what  became 
of  their  cap-.  He  now  and  then  would  also  snatch 
away  wi_'s,  without  doing  the  wearer  any  oilier  injury 
than  stealing  his  property.  Th'  -e  cap-  and  win-,  he 
alwa\s  carried  into  a  tree,  the  lalle<M  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, which  was  the  place  where  he  deposited  all  his 
stolen  L'oods. 

He  would  never  Miller  any  other  hird  of  ihe  rapacious 
kind  to  siav  near  his  dwelling1,  but  would  attack  (hem 
In. Idly  and  put  them  to  llight.  He  did  no  mischief 
among  his  master's  poultry,  nor  were  the  chickens,  and 
younir  ducks,  after  a  while  afraid  of  him.  But  he  was 
not  kind  to  the  hens  and  chickens  of  his  neighbors,  and 
would  sometimes  pounce  upon  them  ;  so  that  his  master 
Men  obliged  to  advertise  that  he  would  pay  for  all  the 
mischief  his  Bii/./.ard  might  be  guilty  of.  He  was.  how- 
ever, frequently  fired  at,  and  at  different  times  received 
fifteen  musket  shots,  without  however  having  a  bone 
broken. 

Once,  while   flying  near  a  forest,  he  dared  to  attack  a 
young  fox,  which  heur_r  seen  by  a  man,  he  was  fired   at 
The  fo\  was  killed  by  the  sliot,  and  the  hird  had 
In-   \\iiiir  hioLen,  hui   contrived  i  from  the  man, 

and  was  lo-t  for  seven  days.  The  man  knowing  by  the 
noise  of  the  hell  on  the  hird  to  whom  he  belonged,  went 
and  informed  the  owner  what  he  had  done.  Seaich  was 
in .ide,  but  the  ljii/./.ard  could  not  he  found.  A  whistle, 
which  used  to  call  him  home,  was  blown  ever\  day,  for 
si\  d  iv-,  but  the  bird  made  no  answer.  On  (he -evenih 
day,  however,  he  an-wered  with  a  feeble  cry,  and  was 
soon  found  with  his  wing-  broken,  heinir  \er\  weak  and 
lean.  He  iiad  walked  a  mile  and  a  half  fiom  (he  place 
where  he  was  wounded,  and  had  ne:irl\  reached  his 
.  In  six  weeks,  his  wounds  were  healed. 


and  he   Leuan  to  tly  about,  and   follow  his  old   habits  as 
before.      Thus   he   continued    for   about  a  \  eai.  \\  ben  he 
di-ajipeared.    never  to  retuin.      Whether  he.    was  killed, 
I  from  choice  \\  as  not  known. 


TIIK   <>\VI. 

This  rapacious  tribe  of  birds,  instead  of  pursuing  then 
pn-\  in  the  day-lime,  like  rhose  already  described,  make 
war  ujion  their  fellows  only  during  the  night,  and  like 
and  cowards,  fall  upon  their  victims  when  they 
cannot  defend  themselves.  Their  eyes  are  so  construct- 
ed, that  they  can  see  much  belter  at  the  dusk  of  evening 
than  b\  the  light  of  the  sun.  Their  heads  arc  round, 
and  their  eyes  large  and  staring,  like  those  of  tl, 
Their  bills  ;ind  claws  are  hooked  and  strong,  and  their 
whole  form  calculated  for  rapine  and  plunder.  They 
live  on  mice,  young  birds,  and  such  oilier  small  animals 
as  they  can  catch.  There  are  about  forty  varied 
(hi-  bud,  all  of  which  have  similar  habits  and  manners. 


TIIK  <;i;r.. 


o\vu 


II.'W  "Wl  • 

The  Creat  Horned  Owl    is    two  feel    and   a  half: 
and  five  feet   in   extent. 

\\'h,il  is  tlic  slia|  c  iif  llii-  I. 

In  shape,  this  bird  appears   shorl  and    thick,  the  head 
is   hioad  and    large,    and  on    the   top  of  it  iheie  use 


54 


THE    OWL. 


tufts  of  feathers,  which  look  like  horns,  and  from  which 
he  takes  his  name. 

What  is  his  color  ? 

His  color  is  is  yellowish  red,  elegantly  spotted  with 
black  and  brown  ;  the  legs  are  reddish,  and  feathered  to 
the  toes. 

Where  is  this  bird  found  .' 

This  Owl  is  a  common  inhabitant  of  Asia,  Europe,  and 
America. 

The  Owl  is  a  ferocious,  sly,  and  savage  bird.  He  does 
not,  like  the  eagle  and  falcon,  attack  his  prey  by  broad 
day-light,  and  give  it  a  chance  to  escape,  but  like  the 
deceitful  robber,  goes  under  the  cover  of  night  and  wages 
war,  when  it  is  least  expected.  The  Owl  cannot,  how- 
ever, see  best  in  the  darkest  nights,  as  some  people  sup- 
pose. It  is  in  the  dusk  of  the  evening,  and  in  the  grey 
of  the  morning  that  his  eyes  are  best  fitted  for  seeing  : 
and  it  is  at  these  times,  that  he  is  most  successful  in  seiz- 
ing his  prey,  for  he  then  finds  most  other  birds  asleep, 
and  has  only  to  seek,  and  take  such  as  he  likes  best. 

There  is,  however,  considerable  difference  in  the  sev- 
eral species  of  this  bird,  in  respect  to  their  being  able  to 
see  in  the  day  time.  The  Great  Horned  Owl  can  see  to 
fly  soon  after  sun-set,  and  even  if  caught  away  from 
home  in  the  day  time,  he  wiH  sometimes  find  his  way 
back.  But  the  Barn  Owl  sees  best  when  it  is  quite  dark, 
and  if  he  happens  to  be  caught  at  a  distance  from  his 
hole,  when  the  sun  shines,  becomes  blind,  and  seemingly 
stupified  with  the  light,  and  will  not  move  from  the  place 
where  he  is  found,  until  it  begins  to  grow  dark. 

The  Great  Horned  Owl  brings  up  its  young  in  the 
cavern  of  a  rock,  or  in  the  hollow  of  some  old  tree,  far 
in  the  woods.  Its  nest  is  built  of  sticks,  bound  together 
with  the  small  roots  of  trees,  and  lined  on  the  inside 
with  leaves. 

These  birds  are  strongly  attached  to  their  offspring, 
and  when  they  are  stolen  and  carried  away,  the  parents 
will  sometimes  seek  out  the  place  where  they  are  con- 
fined, and  continue  to  supply  them  with  food. 

A  gentleman  lived  near  a  steep  mountain,  in  which  a 
pair  of  these  Owls  had  made  their  nest.  One  day,  his 
servant  found  one  of  the  young  Owls,  which  had  strayed 
away  from  the  others,  and  having  caught  it,  carried  it 
home,  and  confined  it  in  a  hen  coop.  The  next  morn- 
ing a  dead  partridge  was  found  before  the  door  of  the 
coop.  This,  the  gentleman  supposed  had  been  left 
there  by  the  parent  birds,  in  order  to  supply  their  unfor- 
tunate young  one  with  provisions  ;  and  this  proved  to 
have  been  the  case,  for  every  night,  for  fourteen  nights 
afterwards,  some  provision  was  found  to  have  been  left 
in  the  same  place.  The  gentleman  and  his  servant 
watched  at  the  window  for  seveial  nights,  in  order  to  as- 
certain at  what  time  this  supply  of  food  was  brought ; 


but  in  this  they  were  disappointed,  for  it  seems  that  the 
bird  was  so  quick-sighted  as  to  see  them  at  the  window, 
and  would  not  come  and  lay  down  her  food,  as  long  as 
she  was  watched.  But  the  moment  they  left  the  window, 
she  laid  down  the  provision  and  flew  away. 

The  old  birds  continued  this  care,  until  the  young 
one  had  arrived  at  an  age  when  young  owls  are  usually 
left  by  their  parents  to  take  care  of  themselves,  when  no 
further  supply  was  brought. 


THE  SCREECH  OWL. 

The  Screech  Owl  is  so  called  on  account  of  the  pecu- 
liar and  distressing  noise  it  makes  in  the  night.  Its  voice 
is  harsh  and  squeaking,  and  its  notes  rapid  and  disagree- 
able. Timid  persons  have  often  been  dreadfully  fright- 
ened by  the  noise  of  this  bird,  when  they  did  not  know 
its  cause. 

This  Owl  is  much  smaller  than  the  great  horned  owl, 
being  only  about  one  foot  long.  Its  feathers  are  soft  and 
beautiful,  and  its  color  a  mixture  of  yellow  and  ash-color, 
spotted  with  white.  The  breast,  and  under  parts  are 
nearly  white,  and  the  legs  feathered  down  to  the  claws. 

This  Owl  feeds  on  mice  and  small  birds,  and  hunts 
only  during  the  night.  In  the  day-time,  when  the  sun 
shines,  it  is  so  blind  as  to  be  unable  to  fly  from  one  tree 
and  light  on  another,  and  hence  it  commonly  returns 
home  before  the  light  of  the  sun  appears.  Sometimes, 
however,  when  its  success  has  not  been  such  as  to  satisfy 
its  appetite,  it  is  so  imprudent  as  to  remain  abroad  until 
the  sun  rises,  and  thus  to  become  blind,  by  the  same 
cause  that  enables  all  other  animals  to  see.  Nothing 
can  be  more  distressing  to  the  poor  bird  than  such  an 
accident,  since  it  is  now,  as  much  at  a  loss  to  find  its 
way  home,  as  a  child  would  be,  if  left  in  the  woods  during 
the  darkest  night. 

Dazzled  by  the  light,  and  bewildered  in  total  blind- 
ness, it  is  obliged  to  take  shelter  in  the  first  tree,  or  hedge 
it  can  find,  and  there  hide  itself,  until  the  darkness  of 
evening  enables  it  to  return  home.  But  it  often  happens 
that  the  poor  bird  cannot  conceal  itself,  so  that  the  birds 


THE    OSTRIC  II.  56 

of  day  will  not  ipy  out  iU  hiding   plan-,  and  ilicn  u  This  lurtl,  tliough  so  large,  and  powerful,  does  not 

sun-  In  re.-eive  mi  meiry.      All  tin-  little  birds  of  ilu-  air  prey  upon  oilier  animals,  lull  ispeil'.rtly  harmless,  when 

i  to  kii<>\\  lliat  this  is  their  natural  enemy,  anil   iliat  no!  pursued,  or  insulted, 
now  is   their  lime  to    lake    vengeance    upon    linn.      Tlic  «li»i  tin.l  nl  r»"ddoe»  I  hit  bird  live? 

black-liiul,  iln-  rol.in,  the  thrush,  ilu-  king-bird,  and  the  "     l'""1  '*  cll;i  ''>  "'  ll"'  Nl'"'  '  lll!(1  k>'"!!  s"ch  as  mils, 

.11  com.-  in  a  crow,!  to  oiler  tlu-ir  insults  and  fcbuM.  '"'rK  ""^  g™»s  !  »»»  "«  's  exceedingly  voracious  in  bis 

MIL allest,  and  most  c, >ut<  mptible  enem ies  of  tli .-he-  appetite,    and    will    swallow   leather,   billions,  tobacco. 
wildeied  Owl,  are  now  th.-  most  foiward  lo  torment  and  ;>•  thing  else  that  is  thrown  to  him. 

injure  him.      They  .sel  up  their  l.n.d.-i  cries:   ih  at  him;  bird  live  .' 

Ha,,  I,,,,,  in  the  fee*  with  their  wing.,  and.  like  all  other         Tl"^  '"ri1  is .  found  in  tllc  hot  and  linrren  deseru  of 

.-..wards,  make  the   -  i,  al. -I  show  of  roma^e,  when  llieie        Africa  and   A«a. 

•      |  „,.  .         '(       It  th»  a  solitary  or  a  social  bird  ? 

l)wl'  '""  klluv  The  Ostrich  is  a  very  social  bird.     In  the  deserts  where 

Where  lie  is,  or  from   what  quarter  the  next  attack    is  to         ,  .  -  .  .  . 

.  )  the*  live,  they  are  sometimes  seen  in  large  flocks,  which, 

bo  made,  and  being  equally  unable  to  escape,  or  defend  ...  ,     ... 

•          ,•       ,  i  at  a  distance,  appear  like  a  troop  of  sold 

himself,  adopts  the  Lest  plan  in  bit  power,  and  that  is,   > 

Tbe  Ostrich  is  as  singular  in  bis  habits  and  manners, 
tosilstill,  nnd  hear  with  stupidity  the  instils,  and  evils,   ;  •     •     ••    r 

<,  as  he  is  in  his  form   and  appearance.     He  inhabits  the 
winch  be  cannot  avoid.     His  little  tormentors  are,  bow-  '  ,  ,  .  , 

;  most  solitary  and  barren  deserts,  where  there  arc  only  a 
e\er,  careful  not  to  indulge  in  their  sports  too  lotiff,  for  {  ,  ,  ,  ,     ,  ,,  n,. 

lew  vegetables,  and  where  it  seldom  or  never  rains.     1  he 
they  know,  that  as  soon  as  the  light  is  gone,  their  enemy       .     ,  ,    ..    ,.   .  ,.   , 

Arabs  say  that  this  bird  never  drinks,  and  probably  this 
will  triumph  instead  of  themselves,  and  therefore  before 

is  true,  for  in  the  country  be  chiefly  inhabits,  no  water 
the  sun  is  fairly  down,  not  one  of  them   is  seen,  in  the 

...      X    i  '"  l>e  found, 

vicinity  of  tbe  Owl.  ..    ,.   , 

Like  the  elephant,  this  bird  never  multiplies  out  of  his 

native  country,  so  that  every  Ostrich  seen  in  Europe  or 
Amrnra,  has  once  been  an  inhabitant  of  the  deserts  of 
Africa  or  Asia. 

When  this  bird  runs,  he  makes  a  proud  and  lofty  ap- 
pearance, but  he  cannot,  like  most  of  the  feathered  spe- 


THE  OSTRICH. 
The  Ostrich  tribe  presents  only  two  species.     In  both, 


the  legs  are  long  and  naked  ;  the  wings  are  short  and   j  cie8>  rjse  from  the  ground,  and  fly  into  the  air.     His 
useless  for  flying  ;  tbe  neck    is   long,  and  the  bill  flat  ;       wings  are  80  8norli  and  snlnll)  lhnt  he  cannol  raige  hjm. 


one  species  has  two  toes,  and  the  other  three,  and  all  of 
th.  in  placed  forwards.     Besides  the  Ostrich,  the  Casso- 


self  with   them  from    tbe  ground,  but  they   assist  him 
greatly   in   running,  so  that   he  can  outrun  the  swiftest 


waiy%etongi  to  this  tribe.     They  are  the  largest  birds  (  horse. 

The  (Kindi  lays  her  eggs  in   the  sand,  without  the 

OSTRICH  trouble  of  preparing  a  nest,  like  most  other  birds.     The 

yt  are  nearly  as  large  as  the  head  of  a  child,  and  weigh 
about  fifteen  pounds  each.     Dunn-  the  day,  when  the 

The  Ostrich  u  the  largest  of  all  birds,  his  head  being      8un  .hincS)  th,,8e  egg8  r,m,in  stl(ric,en.ly  warm,  and  (bo 
from  seven  to  nine  feet  high,  and  his  back  about  four      bjrd  ,pavcs  thcn)j  (o  gQ  [n  Kmh  Q(  fo<jd  for  hersc]f.  but 

at  night  she  carefully  broods  ov,  r  (hen,  ;  and  in  this  it  is 

What  u  the  shape  of  the  Ostrich  ?  .     . 

TT-     ,  ,        ,  ,  TT.   .  j  (  said,  the  male  is  sometimes  so  kind,  as  to  take  turns  with 

His  shape  is  similar  to  that  of  the  crane.     His  legs  and  ) 

neck  are  very  long,  bis  body  short,  and  his  head  small. 

What  i.  the  color  ot  the  Ostrich  '  TllCSe  b'rds'  d"nnS  lht>    l'""'  lll(1>'    »"  ^efcldf 

The  color  of  (his  bird,  on  the  back   and  breast  is  per-  fS8»>  I'V(>  '"  P1";i"  families,  one  male  taking  care  of 

fectly  blnck  ;  the  Ion-  feathers  of  the  tail  and  wings  are  "r  "x  fi'i»ale«.     The  eggs  of  the  whole   family  are  all 

white;  the  legs  and  neck  are  yellowish  white  ;  the  neck  Iilil!   '"   l1"'  Silll"!  I)lar|1'  an(1  ll;llf!"><)  nl  llle  sa"u>  ' 

is  covered  with  thin  hair  ;  tbe  legs  are  entirely  naked  If  tlie>'  ar('  ll^t»''>ed»  <>'  frightened,  they  sometimes  f.,r. 

of  feathers,  and  covered  with  scales.  wke  llu'ir  nt'*1*'  alld   ncvcr  rt'l"rn  aSain   "'  ll"'m  ;  iiml' 

How  many  toes  has  this  bird  ?  lf>   wl"'"   lll('V  arr  :iwa>'  from  lllrlr   ou'"  "l>ls  ll"  >'  ''"P- 

The  Ostrich  has  only  two  toes  on  each  foot;  of  these,  P'  "  to  '"«'''t  wi'l'  tlll>  t'?gs  of  another  Ostrich,  they  will 

the  inside  one  is  much  the  longest,  being  seven  inches  adopt  them  as  their  own  and  hatch  the  young.     It  is  also 

in  length,  and  ending  in  a  claw,  or  nail.     The  other  is  said  lllil1  tllcse  biids sometimes  leave  their  young,  in  (he 

four  inches  long,  and  without  a  nail. 


Is  this  a  rapacious  bird  .' 


same  manner  they  do  their  eggs,  and  never  again  return 
to  them. 


THE  OSTRICH. 


T  II  K     OSTH  I  C  H.  67 

eggs  of  the  Ostrich,  in  the   munliy    where   they  whore  the  huntns    l..i\c   Inm,  ami  i*  thus  teadiU  (bund 

an-  found,  an-  consult  red  ilir  mn-t  delicate  kiiul  nl'  food.  MI  the  morning. 

On.-  e^g  will  make  a  good  ,!nmrr  for  four  or  live  prismis.  At  last  tin-  poor  liinl,   hemu'  worn  dow  n  \viili  fai 

Tin-  lle.sh  nf  llna  bird  is  also  i-aleii  l>\    (In-    .\ia,bs,    1ml  is  anil  exhausted  liy   famine,  finds  when  it  is  too  lad-,  that 

coarse,  and   ill-tasted,  and  would  not  be  eaten   by  those  j  escape  is  out  of  his  power.      He  then  tru  s  (<•  In. If  himself 

who  could  obtain  better  meat.  minx  enemies,  by- plunging  into  a  thicket,  if  one  is 

Thr  (Much  is  chieiU    hunted  for  his  feather,  which  near,  or   by  lying  close  behind  some   little-  sand  hill. 

an-    .-old  in  Kurope  and    America,  and  an-   woinoiilhe  Sometimes,  ho\vc\  ci ,    wln-n   closely  pursued.   In-   lioldly 

I    as    an   article   of  ornament.      Princes,    ladies    and  tin  us  njion  (he  himteis,  and  defends  himself  wilh  all  his 

warriors,  have  for  a  ires  Ix-en  fond  of  wearing  the  feailn  is  might. 

of  this  bird,  in  older  to  attract  aiiention,  or  nn Tease  the  '        Although   by   nature   wild  and  innocent,  he  now  be. 

beauty    of    their   appi-aiance.      Hut    how    degrading   the  comes  despeiale,   and   fights  with  great    force   with  his 

thought,  thai                 .le  lyings,  should  he  able  to  gain  heak,  wings  and  feet,  so  that  the  men  are  obliged  to 

more  atiei u  tn>m  each  other,  by  wearing  the  feathers  Btoape   from   his  rage,  to   save   themsehes   fiom    being 


of  a  poor  silly  bird. 


iir.\TiN<;  THI:  OSTRICH. 


thrown  down,  and  trampli-d  under  his  feel.  Having 
escaped  from  his  blows,  the  hunters  renew  the  attack 
until  the  exhausted  bird  is  no  longer  alile  tu  make  much 
resistance.  The  silly  Ostrich,  then  finding  that  both 
Ostriches  are  taken  in  several  ways.  Sometime-  th  ipe  and  defense  are  equally  out  of  his  power,  either 

are  chased   by  <l.>Lrs  or   bv    men,   mounted  on  horses;      puts  his  head  under  his  wing,  or  buries  it  tinder  the  sand, 
limes  di'  ken    liy  nets  ;   and  sometimes  the       thus  thinking  to  hide  himself   from  the  sight  of  his  ene- 

-  catch  them  in  the  following  manner.     They  take       mies.  by  blinding  his  own  eyes.     In  this  condition  he  is 
the  skin  n!'  an   <  Klrich,  and  put  it  over  the  head,  pas-i  l\   caiijhl  and  secured  b\   the  hunters, 

one  of  the  arnii=  through  the  neck,  (bus  imitating  in  ap-  The  Arabs  after  taking  their  game  in  this  manner,  try 

pearam-e  one  of  (be-i-  Innl-.      Dressed  out  ill  this  decep-       every  means  to  keep  it  alive,  and  to  tame  it  for  the  pur- 
tive  manner,  the  hunter  goes  among  the  Ostriches,  where       pose  of  supplying  themselves  with  the  feathers  which  it 
he  is  taken  by  them,  for  one  of  their  own   kind,  and  he       sheds,  thesi   bring  much  more  valuable  than  those  taken 
having,  introduced   himself  as  one  of  a  flock,  makes  an      from  the  dead  bird, 
prey  of  several  of  these  unsuspecting  birds. 

But  the  most  common  mode  of  hunting  (he  Ostrich. 

.  ..  .  TAME  OSTRICH, 

by  ineans  ol  horses,  the  swiftest  and  best  of  these  animals 


by  ine;i 
being  t 


ig  trained  fur  this  sport  by  the  Arabs.  Tin-  inhabitants  of  Lyhia  keep  lame  Ostriches,  and 
Wh«n  an 'Arab  intends  to  go  out  on  sm-h  an  rxpedi-  raise  up  (locks  of  them  ever\  yar,  for  the  sake  of  pro- 
lion,  he  mounts  a  horse  which  has  been  trained  to  (be  curing  their  feathers.  Travelers,  therefore,  who  have 
sport,  and  proceeds  to  the  hunting  ground,  and  ri>:  ted  that  barren  country,  have  had  opportunities  of  be- 
slowly  and  cautiously  along,  until  he  discovers  his  game.  comim:  acquainted  with  the  manners  of  this  celebrated 
He  does  not  then  begin  the  chase,  and  pursue  directly  bird.  From  such  persons'we  learn  that  the  Ostrich  is  by 
after  his  game,  because  in  that  case  the  bird  would  take  nature  kind  and  playful  ;  but  when  insulted  and  provo- 
the  alarm,  and  as  il  can  outrun  the  swiftest  horse,  would  ked,  be  makes  a  fierce,  angry,  hissing  noise,  and  will 
tli'c  in  tin-  mni.rii.-im-  and  be  lost.  He  therefore  proceeds  attack  those  who  insult  him,  with  his  bill,  and  strike  at 
slowly,  and  follows  only  at  a  long  distance.  Meantime,  them  with  his  wings  and  feet.  During  tin1  darkness  of 
(In- silly  bird,  not  seeing  his  danger,  instead  of  running  in  the  night,  they  make  a  most  doleful  and  frightful  noise, 
a  straight  line  to  a  place  of  safety,  goes  round  in  a  cir-  resembling  the  growling  of  the  lion,  or  the  hoarse  l»-l- 
rle.  The  hunter  now  goes  round  also,  and  makes  a  low  ing  of  a  cow.  Souu  t  inns  the  noise  is  like  the  crying 
small  cir.-le  within  that  made  by  the  bird,  riding  only  so  •>('  a  hoaise  rhild,  but  louder  and  more  dismal. 
near  as  tn  keep  his  game  constantly  upon  (he  run.  While  In  the  heat  of  (he  day  these  birds  strut  about  in  the 
one  hunter  is  doing  this,  another  hunter  will  approach  sun,  holding  up  their  heads,  and  fanning  thein*el\<  •< 
from  someplace  which  the  bird  does  not  expect,  and  thus  with  their  wings,  at  tin-  same  time  seeming  to  ailmiie 
m. ike  him  run  across  the  circle  at  full  speed.  In  this  the  shadows  which  they  make.  With  persons  of  their 
manner  the  chase  is  continued  for  two  or  three  days.  At  acquaintance,  they  are  quile  familiar,  and  will  come, 
night,  the  bird  might  easily  escape,  did  he  foresee  that  when  called,  and  eat  out  of  the  hand  ;  but  they  are 
his  enemies  would  again  beset  him  in  the  morning:  but  sometimes  fn-ice  towards  slrungers,  and  will  try  to  push 
being  both  stupid  and  fatigued,  he  lies  still  near  the  place  them  down,  by  running  furiously  against  them,  and 

9 


58 


THE    OSTRICH. 


when  down  they  will  peck  them  with  their  bills,  and 
strike  them  with  their  feet. 

These  birds  are  so  strong,  as  to  be  able  to  carry  one, 
or  even  two  persons,  on  their  backs,  and  still  to  run  with 
great  swiftness. 

When  Mr.  Adanson  was  at  Podor,  a  village  on  the 
bank  of  the  river  Niger,  in  Africa,  he  saw  two  little  ne- 
groes mounted  at  the  same  time  on  the  back  of  an 
Ostrich.  The  bird,  as  soon  as  they  were  on  his  back, 
began  to  move,  and  soon  ran  as  fast  as  possible,  several 
times  around  the  village.  This  sight  pleased  the  gentle- 
man so  much,  that  he  requested  to  have  it  repeated  ;  and 
to  try  the  strength  of  these  birds,  he  desired  a  negro  man 
to  get  on  the  back  of  a  small  Ostrich,  and  two  other  men 
to  mount  on  that  of  a  larger  one.  The  weight,  he  states, 
did  not  seem  too  much  for  these  birds.  They  moved  at 
first  at  a  good  trot,  but  when  they  became  a  little  heated, 
they  expanded  their  wings,  and  went  along  with  such 
amazing  swiftness,  that  they  seemed  hardly  to  touch  the 
ground. 

The  Ostrich  is  twice  mentioned  in  the  holy  Scriptures, 
namely  in  Job,  39  ;  13-18,  and  in  Lamentations,  4;  3. 
The  passage  in  Job  describes  the  character  and  habits 
of  this  bird,  with  wonderful  correctness,  and  shows,  that 
since  the  day  it  was  written,  the  silly  Ostrich  has  not 
advanced,  either  in  wisdom  or  understanding,  but  that 
she  remains  the  same  in  every  respect  that  she  was  three 
thousand  years  ago. 

"  The  Ostrich,  which  leaveth  her  eggs  in  the  earth, 
and  warmeth  them  in  the  dust,  and  forgetteth  that  the 
foot  may  crush  them,  or  that  the  wild  beast  may  break 
them.  She  is  hardened  against  her  young  ones,  as 
though  they  were  not  hers.  Because  God  hath  deprived 
her  of  wisdom,  neither  hath  he  imparted  to  her  under- 
standing. What  time  she  lifteth  up  herself  on  high,  she 
scorneth  the  horse  and  his  rider.'' 

How  perfectly  this  agrees  with  the  history  of  this  poor 
foolish  bird,  given  above,  and  particularly  where  it  is 
stated,  that  she  leaves  her  eggs  and  her  young,  and  that 
she  does  not  try  to  escape  to  the  mountains,  when  cha- 
sed by  the  horse  and  his  rider.  The  same  character,  in 
part,  is  given  her  in  Lamentations,  where  it  is  said, 
"  The  daughter  of  my  people  is  become  cruel,  like  the 
Ostrich  of  the  wilderness." 

We  may  consider  it  a  singular  circumstance,  that  an 
animal,  which  is  by  nature  so  cruel  and  unfeeling  as  to 
forsake  her  eggs,  and  to  leave  her  young  when  they  are 


unable  to  take  care  of  themselves,  should  be  preserved 
in  existence.  Why  do  not  the  whole  race  perish  7 
Even  with  the  greatest  care,  both  of  the  eggs,  and  of 
the  young,  it  is  difficult  to  see  how  these  creatures  live, 
since  they  inhabit  the  deserts,  which  are  so  dry  and  bar- 
ren, that  any  other  animal,  if  left  there  by  accident, 
would  soon  pei  ish  of  hunger  and  thirst.  In  this,  we  may 
behold  the  wisdom  and  power  of  the  Creator.  It  is  he 
who  made  the  Ostiich,  that  hath  fitted  her  for  the  place 
in  which  she  dwells,  and  has  given  her  the  means  of  pro- 
viding for  her  wants,  in  places  where  other  animals 
would  perish.  And  is  there  not  every  reason  to  believe, 
that  He,  who  careth  for  the  Ostrich  in  the  desert,  and 
feedeth  her  young,  when  forsaken,  will  more  especially 
regard  the  petitions  of  children,  who  humbly  ask  his 
blessing  for  themselves  and  their  parents  1 

The  character  of  the  Ostrich  seems  to  be  made  up, 
chiefly  of  pride  and  foolishness.  It  is  so  proud  of  its 
long  neck  and  fluttering  wings,  as  to  admire  even  its 
own  shadow  ;  and  it  is  so  foolish,  that  when  pursued  by 
the  hunter,  it  does  not  run  a  straight  course,  and  thus 
escape,  but  continues  going  round  in  a  circle,  until  it  is 
tired  down  and  taken.  Thus  we  see,  that  in  the  Ostrich, 
pride  and  folly  go  together,  and  we  arc  sorry  to  say,  that 
in  human  beings  we  too  often  observe  the  same  thing; 
for  whenever  we  see  a  person  very  proud  of  his  looks, 
we  may  be  sure  that  he  is  very  foolish  also. 

Wisdom  and  goodness  will  always  direct  the  person 
who  has  them,  in  a  straight  forward  course,  so  that  he 
commonly  escapes  any  snare  that  is  laid  for  him  :  but 
when  we  see  a  person,  instead  of  coming  directly  to  the 
truth,  taking  a  crooked  course,  and  going  round  it,  as%e 
Ostrich  runs  around  the  hunter,  we  may  be  certain  that 
he  will  be  caught  at  last,  and  will  prove  himself  to  be 
either  proud,  foolish  or  wicked. 

The  Ostrich  is  still  more  foolish,  if  possible,  in  think- 
ing that  because  she  shuts  her  own  eyes,  or  hides  her 
head  in  the  sand,  that  therefore  others  cannot  see  her. 
But  still  we  find  that  foolish  and  wicked  people  act  with 
as  little  understanding  as  the  silly  Ostrich.  They  say 
to  themselves,  while  committing  crime  under  the  dark- 
ness of  the  night,  "  no  one  sees  me,  and  I  shall  escape 
punishment  for  this  wickedness."  Or  in  the  language 
of  Scripture,  "  The  Lord  shall  not  see,  neither  shall  the 
God  of  Jacob  regard  it."  But  such  persons  should  remem- 
ber that  "  There  is  no  shadow  of  darkness,  where  the 
workers  of  iniquity  may  hide  themselves, "and  that  the 
darkness  and  the  light  are  both  alike  to  God. 


T  II  K    C  A  S  S  o  \V    \  H  V 


II 


Till-:  CASSOWARY. 


60 


THE    CASOWARY. 


THE  CASSOWARY. 

How  large  is  the  Cassowary  ? 

The  Cassowary,  next  to  the  ostrich,  is  the  largest  of 
all  the  birds.  He  is  about  five  feet  and  a  half  high  from 
the  ground  to  his  head. 

What  is  the  shape  of  this  bird  ? 

His  shape  is  similar  to  that  of  the  ostrich,  but  his  neck 
and  legs  are  not  so  long,  and  his  body  is  larger  in  pro- 
portion. His  wings,  like  those  of  the  ostrich,  are  so  short, 
that  he  cannot  rise  from  the  ground. 

Where  does  this  bird  live  .' 

This  bird  is  found  in  the  island  of  Java,  and  other 
parts  of  the  East  Indies. 

What  is  the  food  of  this  bird  ? 

The  Cassowary,  like  the  ostrich,  has  a  most  voracious 
appetite,  and  is  not  at  all  particular  in  respect  to  his 
food.  He  seems  to  be  grateful  for  any  thing  that  is 
thrown  him,  whether  it  be  leaden  bullets,  bits  of  leather, 
stones,  or  pieces  of  glass,  and  will  swallow  any  of  these 
substances,  as  though  they  were  the  best  of  food.  He 
however  lives  chiefly  on  mils,  grass  and  insects. 

How  many  toes  has  the  Cassowary  ? 

This  bird  has  three  toes  on  each  foot,  all  of  which 
stand  forward. 

What  is  the  color  of  this  bird  ? 

The  color  of  the  Cassowary  is  dark  yellowish  grey. 
The  ends  of  the  feathers  are  black,  but  towards  the  roots 
they  are  yellowish  white,  so  that  the  whole  appears  yel- 
lo"wishgrey.  The  head  and  neck  are  naked,  and  of  a 
blue  color. 

How  long  are  his  wings  ? 

His  wings,  when  the  feathers  are  pulled  out,  are  only 
about  three  inches  long,  and  on  each  of  them  there  are 
five  sharp  spines,  or  thorns,  the  largest  of  which  is  nearly 
a  foot  long,  and  a  quarter  of  an  inch  thick  at  the  root. 
These  are  hollow,  and  are  formed  like  quills. 

Is  the  Cassowary  a  ferocious,  or  an  innocent  bird  .' 

This  great  bird  is  not  formed  for  seizing  and  destroying 
other  animals.  His  claws  are  not  made  for  grasping  his 
prey,  nor  is  his  bill  made  for  tearing  flesh.  But  his  feet 
are  formed  for  walking,  and  his  bill  for  picking  up  his 
food  from  the  ground. 

The  bill  of  this  singular  bird  is  four  inches  long;  his 
head  is  small,  and  on  its  crown  there  grows  a  large, 
horny  substance,  of  a  black  color,  which  gives  him  a 
frightful  appearance.  The  color  of  his  eye  is  bright 
yellow,  and  the  eye  ball  being  an  inch  and  a  half  across, 
the  whole  aspect  of  the  head  is  exceedingly  odd  and 
fierce. 

About  the  middle  of  the  neck  there  are  two  large 
bunches  of  skin,  and  at  this  place  the  neck  is  surround- 
ed with  feathers  like  a  ruffle.  The  other  parts,  with  the 
exception  of  the  head  and  neck,  are  covered  with  long 
thin  feathers,  which  resemble  horse  hair.  This  coverino-, 


',  on  the  back,  is  so  longas  to  fall  down  the  sides,  and  hide 
the  upper  parts  of  the  legs. 

The  whole  appearance  of  the  Cassowary  is  fierce  and 
terrible,  and  one  who  did  not  know  his  character,  would 
nearly  as  soon  approach  a  lion,  as  go  near  him.  But  his 
conduct  and  habits  are  very  different  from  what  one 
might  expect  from  his  looks  ;  for  instead  of  attacking 
and  destroying  others,  he  seldom  fights,  except  in  his 
own  defense,  and  then  does  not  make  use  of  his  bill,  but 
kicks  like  a  horse,  or  runs  against  his  pursuer,  and  hav- 
ing beat  him  to  the  ground,  treads  him  underhis  feet. 

The  first  Cassowary  ever  seen  in  Europe,  was  brought 
by  the  Dutch  from  the  island  of  Java,  about  the  begin- 
ning of  the  seventeenth  century.  This  bird  was  shown 
at  Amsterdam  as  a  great  curiosity,  and  was  afterwards 
presented  to  the  emperor  of  Germany,  as  a  rarity  proper 
to  be  given  to  a  great  prince.  Many  years  after  this, 
another  bird  of  the  same  kind  was  sent  from  Madagascar, 
by  the  governor  of  that  Island,  to  the  king  of  France, 
and  lived  four  years  after  its  arrival.  Since  that  time, 
these  birds  have  often  been  exhibited  in  Europe  and 
America  ;  and  at  the  present  day  are  not  uncommon. 

Like  the  elephant  and  ostrich,  the  Cassowary  has 
never  been  known  to  raise  its  young,  out  of  their  native 
country. 

A  Cassowary,  which  a  few  years  since  was  kept  at 
Paris,  eat  every  day  about  four  pounds  of  bread,  six  or 
seven  apples,  and  a  bunch  of  currants.  It  swallowed  all 
its  food  without  chewing  or  bruising,  and  drank  from 
four  to  five  pints  of  water  daily. 

This  bird  was  sometimes  ill-natured  and  mischievous. 
He  was  angry  when  he  saw  any  person  ragged,  dirty,  or 
dressed  in  red  clothes,  and  would  vent  his  spite  at  such 
persons,  by  kicking  at  them  with  his  feet,  and  in  that 
way  would  give  very  hard,  and  even  dangerous  blows. 

In  the  wild  state,  these  birds  lay  three  or  four  eggs,  in 
the  sand,  which,  in  the  hot  climates  they  inhabit,  are 
said  to  be  hatched  entirely  by  the  heat  of  the  sun.  But 
in  countries  that  are  colder,  the  female  sits  upon  her 
eggs,  and  hatches  them,  like  other  birds. 


WATER   BIRDS. 


WE  come  now  to  a  class  of  birds,  which  are  quite  dif- 
ferent in  their  manners,  habits,  and  shapes,  from  those 
already  described.  Instead  of  living  among  mountains 
and  in  forests,  or  taking  up  their  abodes  in  cultivated 
fields,  or  about  the  habitations  of  men,  they  are  to  be 
found  out  at  sea,  or  along  the  shore,  or  in  marshes  situ- 
ated on  the  borders  of  lakes  and  rivers. 


T  H  i:    C  R  A  IS 


61 


Tin-  Water  Bird«  may   be  divided    into  two  kinds,  or       is  yellow;  and  above  and  Mow  the  eyes,  there  are  two 
orders,  namely,  the  Waders  and  the  Swimmers.  Mripes,  of  nn  ash  color,  wlii.-li   meet  ;u  tin-  root  of  the 

lull.      Tin-  legs,  and  tiuill  leathers  an-  black. 
THE  WADKKS.  where  d,*,  thi.  b.nl  « 


Tin-  Wader*  form  a  conn.  run:;  link  between  ill.-  Land  '  '"'  W1""T'"-  Ciane  is  occasionally  seen  on  the  sea 

Hirds  and  the  Swimmers.      They  d<>  not,  lik,-  (he  Land  "'"'"'  "f  tllc   American   continent,   from  Cape   Horn    to 

liink  wander  amonglhe  mountains  and  foiesls,  nor,  like  (''"'-"l:l-     |l'""»  'I'.-.-  shores  it  migrates  to  the  north, 

ihr  Swimmers.  do  (hey  often  venture  »nt  at  sea.     They  ;""'  SI"'"'I-J  ;i  P!lrl  uf  its  l'"lt;   nmong  the  regions  of  per- 

take  the  middle  pi.-,,-.-",  and  n->i,le  in  the    shallow    water  I"'"1;'1  ""''  ;""1  M'"u' 

along  ihe  shore,  and  hen.-.-  th,-\  are  sometimes  found  in  Of  nil  the  f.-aili.  -red  tribes  which  visit  the  I'nii.-d  Slate* 

company  with  both  kinds.  "'  America,  the  Whooping  Crane  is  the  largest  and  most 

The  Wad.-rs.  like  thr  Land  Mirds,  liave  most  of  them,  8tately-     These  birds  are  seen  on  our  sea-coasts,  and  in 

their  toe.  divided  to  the  on-in,  or  neaily   M,   while  the  '"w-  lli;irsl|y   I'l^es,  chiefly  during  the  winter  season. 

Swimmers    have  theirs  connected  l.y  a  web,  or  mem-  Al'""t  slir|'  l'l:"'(>!!-  lll(>.V  may  be  seen  watching  with  the 

brane,  whi.-h  series,  instead  of  a  paddle,  to  force   them  }   I11O8t  unw<>;"  "•''    |»-'tience   in  search  of  small   fish,  and 

thiou-l,  the  water.     Son  .....  f  the  Waders  have  a  small  xvnr">s-  w''iHi  ••>»•   il"'ir  principal  food;  they  also  occa- 

inemhrane  towards  the  roots  of  the  i,,es,  whirl,  enables  Mon;ill>  '  ''  "lire,  moles,  and  probably  frogs.     Now  and 

them  to  swim  wh.-n  n.  ,,-:,,  y.     Most  of  then,  have  legs  ;    '.'"  "  ''"  -V    t^t>  nnd  snil  wit,h  a  slow  and  hcavy  flight, 

of  im.-ommon  length,  so  lhat  they  .-an  walk  about  in  the  fr°m  °"e  flsninS  Plncr  '"  ''I'lother,  making,  when  a  per- 

water;  nnd  also   lonp  nt-cks,  l.y  means  of  which   they  S(>"1-  '"••"  ll"'"i>  «  very  formidable  appearance. 

search  the  bottom  for  food.  ""'ir    migrations   are    of  the    most   extensive    kind, 

To  this  Order  of  Birds  belong  the  Cranes,  Storks,  Her-  rr:irlli"S  to  n  distance  ,  ,|,,al  to  more  than  a  third  of  the 

ons,  Bitterns,  Snipes,  and  otlu-r«.  c.rcumference  of  the  globe,  from  north  to  south.     In  the 

spring,  or  latter  part  of  the  winter,  they  set  out  on  their 
vast  periodical  journeys,  which  end  in  the  frozen  regions 
of  Greenland  and  [.-eland  ;  and  in  the  autumn  they 

THE  CRAM1  ':  retlir"   '°  ''"'   warlm'r  climatcs  of  the  south.     During 

these  journey*  they  fly  at  such  an  immense  height  in 

The  Cranes   have  long  legs,   long  necks,  and  long,  tllc  air>  M  8eldom  to  he  seen,   but  their  voices  are  so 

sharp  bills.     Their  toes  are  four  in  number,  and  are  con-  Ioll(*>  aa  oflen  lo  he  heard,  when  the  eye  cannot  discover 

nected  by  a  membrane,  as  far  as  the  second  joint.  them. 

The  Cranes  may  in  general  he  known  from  the  herons,  When  started,  and  obliged  to  take  winjr,  they  make  a 

by  their  greater  size,  by  their  comparatively  short  bills,  sll;irP>   piercing  ciy,  which  may  be  heard  two  or  three 

by  their  having  no  extra  feathers   on  the  head,  and  l>v  '»''<•*,  «ft«-T  whirh.   the   tone  is  changed   into  a  kind  of 

the  broad   flag-like  plumage  whirh  rises  from  the  hack,  whooping  sound,  from  which  the  name  11  hooping  Crane 

and  projects  over  the  tail.     These  birds  live  chiefly  on  is  derived. 

fish,  which  they  rnich  by  striking  them  with  their  bills.  When  wounded,  they  do  not  try  to  eprape  the  gunner, 

They  differ   considerably  in  respect  to  si/e,  but  all  of  or  ms  dog,  but  when   approached,   boldly    attack   both, 

them  have  similar  habits.  •   w'll'  gn^'l  resolution  and  strength;  nor  is  such  a  contest 

always  safe  for  the  man.     The  sharpness  of  (heir  bills, 

THE  WHOOPING  CRANE.  and  the  great  force  with  which  their  long   necks  enable 

How  large  a  bird  it  the  Whooping  Crane  .'  (hem    to   8trikej    sometimes    produce     dieadful    conse- 

The  Whooping  Crane  is  four  feet  and  a  half  in  length,  'I114'""9- 

from  the  point  of  the  bill  to  the  tail.     When  standing,  A  y°"n-    """»  havim,'  wound.,  1  one   of  these  birds, 

his  head  is  five  feet  from  the  ground  ;  and  his  bill  is  six  raslll>'  W(1|U  lo°  "™r.  when  (he  formidable  cieaturo  corn- 

inches  long.  menced  (he  attack,  by  aiming  a  blow  with  its  hill,  directly 

What  is  the  form  of  thit  bird?  at  his  eye.      In  the  struggle  to  getaway   from  such   an 

Of  all  the  Crane  tribe,  this  is  by  far  the  most  comely.  enemy,  the   eye-hall    was  torn  n<-arl\   from    the  socket, 

His  body,  neck,  head,  nnd  bill,  are  in  fine  proportion  to  and  il  is  hardly  necessary  to  say,  that  the  sight  was  en- 

each  other,  and  the  long,  flowing   feathers  which  arise  tirely    lost.     In   another    instance,   one  of  these    birds 

from  his  back,  and  hang  over  the  tail,  irive  him  an  air  of  struck  a  man  with  such  force,  as  to  drive  its  bill  entirely 

elegance  that  few  birds  possess.  i  through  his  hand. 

What  color  is  this  Crane  .'  There  is  a  belief,  that  the  manner  ill  which  a  flock  of 

The  color  of  this  Crane  is  chiefly  ash  white  ;  the  bill  (   Cranes   tly,    for.  (.  -IN  a  change  of  w.  -aider.     If,  in  the 


63 


THE    CRANE. 


THE  WHOOPING  CRANE. 


THE    STORK. 


inoriilnir,  or  evening,  they  use  up\v:inls,  ami  fly  peace-  ( 
fully  in  a  bo<l\  ,n   is  a  sign  of  fine  weather  ;  lint  if  iliey 
fly  low,  or  alight  on  the  ground,  it  is  said  to  be  a  sun1 
indication  of  ii  storm  or  tempest..    Nor  is  il  improbable 
that   tins  is  inn  ;  M'IICC  tin-    same  tiatiiial  instinct  which   ; 
lends  this  bird  to  kn«>\v  whrii  to  begin  its  yearly  flight, 
might  also  loach  it  ho\v  to  shun  a  coming  storm. 

These  birds  rear  their  young  in  the  regions  of  tin- 
north.  Their  nests  an-  placed  on  the  gronnil,  amid-L 
the  most  solitary  and  dreary  swamps,  and  their  eggs  are 
only  two  in  number. 

The  Cranes  are  remarkably  accurate  in  observing  the 
time  when  their  I  <re  to  begin,  and  they  dis- 

r  much  sagacity  in  arranging  themselves  in  the  best  • 
manner  for   their   flight.      Each  flock   takes  the  form  of  \ 
tin-  loiter  V,  moving  iliroiii;li  the  air  with  the  sharp  end 
forward,  and  being  led  by  a  particular  one,  probably  on  \ 
account  of  his  age  and  e\peiicnce.     In  case  of  contrary 
winds,  they  move  in  such  dost-  order  as  to  appear  as  one 
body,  thus  taking   the  form   which   least  impedes  their 
flight. 

The  accuracy  with  which  the  Crane  observes  the  lime 
of  her  flight,  is  taken  notice  of  in  the  Scriptures.     "The    , 
Crane  and  the  Swallow  observe  the  time  of  their  coming;  j 
but  my    people  know   not  the  judgment   of  the  Lord." 
Jeremiah,  8;  7. 

This  was  a  sharp  reproof  of  the  conduct  of  the  Jews, 
who,  though  they  had  seen  the  mighty  works  of  the 
Lord,  were  yet  less  mindful  of  his  commands,  than  were 
the  birds  of  the  air  to  the  stated  times  of  their  migrations. 


THE  STORK. 

What  kind  of  •  bird  is  the  Stork  ? 
The  Stork  is  a  bird  of  the  Crane  kind. 

.»  large  a  the  Stork  .' 

This  bird  is  of  considerable  size,  measuring  three  feet 
in  length,  and  about  six  feet  in  exicnt ;  his  bill  is  about 

eight  inches  long. 

What  is  the  color  of  this  bird  ? 

The  color  of  his  neck,  breast,  and  back  is  white  ;  the 
quill  feathers  are  blark  ;  the  bill  and  legs  are  red,  and 
aionnd  the  eye  there  is  a  spot  of  dark  brown. 

Whit  is  the  shape  of  the  Stork  ? 

The  shape  of  the  Stork  is  similar  to  that  of  the  crane; 
but  his  body  is  larger,  and  his  legs  not  so  long  as  those 
of  the  crane. 

Where  is  this  bird  found  ? 

This  celebrated  bird  is  found  in  many  parts  of  Europe, 
and  in  Asia;  but  is  particularly  fond  of  Germany,  and 
especially  the  low  countries  of  Holland. 

In  Holland,  and  in  some  other  countries,  Storks  nre 
protected  from  injury  by  law.  These  birds,  therefore, 


become  (pule  familiar  with  ihe  habitations  of  man,  and 
in  nian\  m>tames,  are  so  far  domesticated  as  to  walk 
about  the  streets  without  concern,  and  pick  up  whatever 
food  they  can  find. 

The\  live  chiefly  on  frogs,  serpents  and  Ir/.ards,  but 
\\  Ii'-n  taineil,  they  will  eat  any  kind  of  meat  that  is 
(brown  them.  In  Egypt  and  Palestine,  Storks  are  con- 
sidered of  great  value,  on  account  of  their  destroying 
rats,  and  mice,  which,  were  it  not  for  these  birds,  would 
become  so  numerous,  as  to  injure  the  harvest. 

'I'ii  -  bird  is  of  a  mild  and  pleasant  disposition,  and 
may  In-  ea-.il \  tanieil,  and  trained  to  reside  in  gardens, 
which  it  will  al\\  clear  of  insects  and  reptiles. 

The  Stork  builds  her  nest  on  the  tops  of  houses,  or 
churches,  and  often  in  the  midst  of  cities.  In  Holland, 
the  people  prepare  boxes  for  them  to  build  in,  as  we  do 
for  the  martens.  These  birds  also  build  in  forests, 
always  selecting  the  tallest  Irees  for  this  purpose. 

I  lie  iir-i  is  constructed  with  admirable  skill  and  great 
labor.  The  materials  of  which  it  is  built,  are  dry  sticks 
from  the  woods,  and  coarse  grass  from  the  marshes. 
Throughout  the  whole 'progress  of  building,  every  thing 
is  done  in  the  most  exact  and  workmanlike  manner,  and 
when  the  structure  is  finished,  she  examines  every  part 
of  it,  tries  its  firmness  with  her  bill, — supplies  any  defect 
which  she  observes, — breaks  off  any  ill-looking  part,  and 
does  not  occupy  it  until  the  whole  agrees  with  her  ideas 
of  comfort  and  safety. 

The  natural  history  of  ihe  Stork,  seems  to  have  been 
well  known  to  the  sacred  writers ;  and  she  appears  in 
all  ages  to  have  been  a  particular  favorite  wilh  mankind. 
The  mutual  love  which  a  pair  of  these  birds  bear  towards 
each  other, — the  care  which  they  lake  of  their  young, 
ami  ihe  tenderness  with  which  they  treal  their  parents  in 
old  age,  have  been  celebrated  as  examples  worthy  to  be 
imitated  by  human  beings. 

The  Stork  never  deserts  its  parents,  but  defends  and 
feeds  them  with  the  utmost  tenderness,  particularly 
when  they  grow  old,  and  unable  to  take  care  of  them- 
selves. 

A  Danish   author  gives,  from   his  own  observations, 

some    interesting    particulars  concerning  this   bird.     In 

Denmark,  they  build  their  nests  among  clusters  of  trees, 

many  of  them  associating  together,  and  forming  a  sort  of 

;   community.     If  any  annual  comes  near  this  place,  par- 

j    ticularly  while  tin-  females  are  Citing,  the  whole  society 

alarmed,  and  they  go  out  and  commence  the 

attack    in  a  body.     When   ihe  young  are  hatched,  the 

parents  watch  and  feeil  them,  with   the    utmost  anxiety 

and  care.     They  ne\er  leave  I)H  in  alone,  bul  when  one 

\   go,  arch  of  food,  the  oilier  slays  al  ihe  nest, 

to  see  thai  they  are  warm,  and   that  no  other  animal 

'  comes  near  them. 


64 


THE    STORK. 


THE  STORK. 


When  the  young  are  able  to  fly,  the  parents  take  them 
out  for  exercise  during  the  day,  but  bring  them  back  at 
night.  In  due  time  they  lead  them  to  the  marshes,  and 
point  out  to  them  their  proper  food,  such  as  frogs,  ser- 
pents and  lizards.  They  also  seek  out  toads,  which  they 
do  not  eat,  and  take  great  pains  to  learn  their  young 
to  distinguish  between  these  reptiles  and  their  proper 
food. 

At  the  end  of  autumn,  these  birds  come  together  in  a 
body,  and  prepare  for  their  annual  migration.  Before 
they  begin  their  flight,  they  arrange  themselves  in  due 
order,  the  old  ones  leading  in  fiont,  then  the  young  ones 
in  the  middle,  and  then  again  a  paity  of  old  ones  as  a 
rear  guard.  In  this  order  they  set  out  on  their  journey. 

When  they  return  in  the  spring,  the  people  assemble 
in  crowds  to  welcome  them  as  the  harbingers  of  summer. 
At  this  time,  it  is  not  uncommon  to  see  several  of  the  old 
birds,  which  are  feeble  and  fatigued  with  their  long  jour- 
ney, resting  on  the  backs  of  the  younger  ones. 

These  aged  parents,  it  is  said,  are  laid  carefully  on 
their  old  nests,  where  they  are  fed  and  cherished  by  the 
young  ones,  which  they  reared  with  so  much  tenderness 
the  year  before. 

Thus  we  see  that  the  general  character  of  the  Stork  is 
worthy  of  the  highest  praise.  But  we  are  sorry  to  say 
that  he  sometimes  behaves  in  a  manner  not  so  worthy  of 


approbation,  for  when  insulted  he  does  not  forgive  the 
injury,  but  seeks  the  first  opportunity  of  taking  revenge 
on  his  enemy. 

A  farmer,  near  Hamburgh,  in  Germany,  had  a  tame 
Stork,  which  lived  for  several  years  in  the  yard  with  his 
poultry.  This  bird,  from  his  size,  and  the  influence  he 
exerted  among  the  geese,  ducks  and  chickens,  had  be- 
come a  kind  of  captain  among  them,  and  therefore,  like 
other  commanders,  was  quite  jealous  of  encroachments 
on  his  own  ground.  It  happened,  however,  that  the 
farmer,  not  sufficiently  aware  of  this  circumstance, 
brought  a  wild  Stork  into  the  yard,  as  a  companion  for 
the  tame  one.  This  was  exceedingly  provoking  to  the 
tame  Stork,  who  was  far  from  wishing  to  divide  his  influ- 
ence with  a  rival ;  he  therefore,  without  considering  who 
was  to  blame,  fell  upon  the  poor  stranger,  and  beat  him 
so  unmercifully,  that  he  escaped  with  difficulty,  but 
finally  took  wing  and  left  the  place.  But  this  piece  of 
ill  treatment  the  stranger  did  not  forget  nor  forgive,  for 
about  four  months  afterwards,  he  revenged  himself  in 
the  most  cruel  manner  for  the  insult.  Having  recovered 
from  his  wounds,  he  came  to  the  poultry-yard,  attended 
by  three  other  Storks,  and  no  sooner  had  they  alighted, 
than  they  all  four  fell  upon  the  tame  Stork,  and  beat 
him  with  such  violence  that  he  died  on  the  spot. 

The  Stork  was  spoken  of  by  the  ancients,  with  a  de- 


THE    H  K  RON. 


<>f  respect  bordering  on  veneration.  Its  name,  in 
the  Hebrew  language,  •ignifiM  pious,  or  nier<-i!'ul,  and  it 
was  so  naiin'd  »n  account  of  the  exemplar}  care  with 
wliirh  these  birdf  Watch*  O  vet  their  ajM-d  parents. 

This  bird  is  mentioned  in  I'-alin  lt>4  ;  17.  "As  for 
llie  Sloik.the  fir  trees  an-  her  liousc." 

It  is  believed,  (hat  there  is  in, (  ;,  reference  in  the  Scrip- 
iy  animal  whose  iiiiinral  hislon  is  known,  but 
what  is  found  to  be  (UiklDgly appropriate  and  inie.  In 
the  |in  -  ni  in-lance,  ih>-  plan-  inhabited  by  the  Stork  is 
ver\  properly  culled  liei  hon-e,  -11101-  her  nr.-l  is  limit  with 
much  more  than  commoy  rare  and  skill. 

In  the  Kasl,  where  ihr  s.icred  writer  became  acquaint- 
ed with  tin-  milliners  and  hakl-  o!  this  bud,  the  homes 
nre  built  with  flat  roofs,  and  are  occupied  by  the  inh.ib- 
n  the  (summer  as  sleeping  places.  The  Stork  was 
tberefoie  i  oinpelled  to  «jo  to  the  fore-t.  win-re  -he  built 
her  nest  in  the  lii  tree,  instead  of  making  it  on  the  roofs 
of  hiiiiM-s,  as  she  <lm-s  in  Hollaml,  and  in  oilier  counliies. 
\Ve  have  already  staled,  thai  when  this  bird  builds  in 
the  Wood-,  -lie  -elect"  [he  (idlest  trees  for  (Ills  purpose, 

and  it  is  well  known  that  the  fir.  i-  one  which  answers 
this  description.  The  pasture  i-  therefore  an  appropri- 
ate reference  to  (he  natural  habits  of  this  bird. 

It  is  hardly  n-  to  rail  upon   parents  to  imitate 

the  Stork  in  the  care  of  their  offspring;  for  the  feelings 
of  fathers  and  mothers  towards  their  children,  and  the 
interest  they  take  in  their  welfare,  are  sufficient  reasons 
why  lliev  .-hoiild  do  every  thing  for  them  in  their  power. 
Children,  indeed,  know  veiy  little  how  much  anxiety 
and  concern  they  ha\e  -  d  their  parents  during 

their  infancy  and  childhood.  The  mosi  trmeious  actions 
and  (be  n  veriiiL'  kindness,  (hough  showing  in 

the  highest  degree,  both  filial  piety  and  grateful  feclinirs 
can    nevi-i    n-pay    the   debt  which  a  child  owes  hi 
ents.     For  to   them,  under  God,  he  not  only  owes  his 

very  existence,  but  every  Comfort  dlirill;:  years  of  help- 
less infanc\ . 

children,  then,  imitate  the  Stoik,  by  rendering  all 
due  obedience  to  their  parents,  and  when  they  become 
aged,  feeble,  and  perhaps  childish,  let  them  delight  in 
doing  every  thing'  in  their  power  to  make  their  latter 
days  comfortable  and  happy.  In  doing  this,  children 
not  only  do  all  they  can  to  pay  a  debt  of  gratitude, 
which  they  are  bound  as  far  as  possible  to  pay,  but  they 
perform  a  duly  which  meet- the  approbation  of  lb-a\en. 
"Honor  thy  father,  and  thy  mother,  which  is  the  first 
commandment  with  prom 

10 


THK  HERON. 

The  Heions  very  nearly  ie-enihle  the  cranes,  both  in 
appearance    and  habits.      They  are  all  waders,  and  live 
chiefly  on  fish,  and  other  food,  which  they  take  from  the 
They  have  long  necks,  loaf  legs,  and  long  i 

bills,  all  of   which    an-    finely  adapted    to   their  n. 

The  Herons  me  yeneially  less  in  size  than  the 
cranes,  and  ma\  be  di-inii;ni-li.  d  from  them  by  the  long 
feathers  on  the  crown  of  the  head.  They  are  a  very 
numerous  tribe  of  birds,  the  number  of  species  and  vari- 
eties I  ily  one  hundred,  and  some  of  them 
be  found  in  almo-i  ,-\ei\  part  of  ihe  world. 


THE  CKC.AT  HERON. 


H"»  l.ir;e  is  Ihc  Great  Heron  ? 

The  ( lieat  Ib-roti  is  five  feet  and  four  inches  high  from 
the  ground  to  his  head,  and  about  six  feet  in  extent,  with 
his  wings  spread ;  his  bill  is  eight  inches  long. 


66 


THE    BITTERN. 


What  color  is  this  bird  ? 

The  colors  of  this  hird  give  him  a  very  singular  appear- 
ance. The  crest,  the  lower  part  of  the  legs,  the  quill 
feathers,  and  the  fore  part  of  the  neck  are  black  ;  upper 
part  of  the  back,  tail  and  wings,  bluish  slate  color;  on 
the  back  and  breast  there  grow  long-  hair-like  feathers, 
which  are  white ;  throat  and  crown  of  the  head,  white  ; 
back  part  of  the  neck  light  brown  ;  the  bill  is  yellow. 

Where  is  the  Great  Heron  found  ? 

The  Great  Heron  is  an  American  bird,  and  inhabits 
all  the  sea  coast  from  Connecticut  to  Florida.  This  is 
not,  like  most  of  the  tribe,  a  bird  of  passage,  but  a  con- 
stant inhabitant  of  the  country. 

The  Great  Herons  build  their  nests  and  rear  their 
young  in  the  Carolinas  and  other  soulhern  states.  Their 
places  of  building  are  solitary  cedar  swamps,  where  each 
bird  selects  the  tallest  tree  she  can  find,  and  makes  her 
nest  on  its  top.  The  materials  are  chiefly  dry  sticks, 
with  small  twigs  for  the  lining  of  the  inside.  A  dozen 
pair  or  more  often  build  in  the  same  neighborhood. 

The  principal  food  of  this  Heron  is  fish,  which  it 
catches  with  much  skill  and  dexterity.  He  will  stand 
at  the  edge  of  the  water,  with  his  neck  curved  in  the 
form  of  an  S,  sometimes  perfectly  still  for  hours, 
watching  for  his  prey.  But  when  a  fish  comes  within 
his  reach,  he  unbends  his  neck  and  darts  upon  it  with 
such  sure  aim,  and  surprising  swiflness,  that  there  is  no 
chance  of  escape.  He  is  also  fond  of  mice,  grasshoppers 
and  frogs. 

This  Heron  has  great  strength  of  wing,  and  when  on  a 
journey,  flies  very  high  in  the  air.  They  are  often  seen 
far  inland,  winging  their  way  from  the  lakes  to  the 
ocean.  On  these  occasions  they  move  slowly,  but  in  a 
straight  and  business-like  manner,  neither  turning  nor 
looking  to  the  right  or  left. 

These  birds  are  exceedingly  shy,  and  very  fearful  of 
the  presence  of  man.  When  they  alight,  it  is  commonly 
in  the  middle  of  some  extensive  marsh,  where  they  can 
see  the  approach  of  a  gunner  at  a  long  distance,  and  they 
generally  take  care  that  he  does  not  come  too  near  them. 

The  Great  Heron,  if  taken  young,  may  be  tamed  with- 
out difficulty,  but  the  old  ones  refuse  all  kinds  of  food 
when  in  captivity,  and  if  not  set  free,  will  soon  pine 
away  and  die. 

The  Herons  are  the  most  voracious  of  all  eaters,  the 
number  of  fish  they  devour  being  almost  incredible.  The 
English  Heron  weighs  only  four  pounds,  and  yet  Wil- 
loughby  says  he  has  known  one  of  them  to  eat  sixteen 
carp  at  a  meal ;  and  Mr.  Bingley  states,  that  a  bird  of 
this  kind,  one  day  with  another,  was  known  to  eat  fifty 
fish,  of  moderate  size. 


THE  BITTERN. 

The  Bitterns  are  a  tribe  of  birds,  which  possess  char- 
acters and  habits  similar  to  those  of  the  cranes  and  her- 
ons. They  live  on  fish  and  insects,  and  inhabit  swamps 
and  marshes,  as  well  as  the  sea  shore.  They  are  smaller 
in  size  than  the  herons,  but  not  so  slender.  Their  bills 
are  exceedingly  sharp,  and  they  are  very  expert  at  catch- 
ing fish  and  insects. 


AMERICAN  BITTERN. 

How  large  is  the  American  Bittern  ? 

The  American  Bittern  is  three  feet  three  inches  long 
from  the  bill  to  the  tail ;  and  with  the  wings  spread  three 
feet  and  a  half  in  extent. 

What  color  is  this  bird  ? 

The  color  of  the  neck,  breast  and  under  parts  of  this 
bird  is  yellowish  brown,  spotted  with  dark  brown  ;'  the 
throat  is  white,  spotted  with  black  ;  the  wings  black, 
marbled  with  yellow,  except  the  ends,  which  are  en- 
tirely black ;  there  is  also  a  patch  of  black  across  the 
neck,  near  the  head. 

Where  is  this  bird  found  ? 

This  Bittern  inhabits  most  parts  of  the  United  States. 

It  is  exceedingly  solitary  in  its  habits,  generally  resi- 
ding in  some  thick  swamp,  or  among  the  high  grass  near 
the  sea  shore.  It  is  not  an  uncommon  bird,  and  still  is 
never  seen  in  any  considerable  numbers.  It  hides  itself 


T  II  K    SNIP  E. 


during  ilic  day,  and  unless  disturbed,  feeds  and  tlicaonly 

al  eveniiuj-,  or  durini:  the  night.      In    I •    parts  of  tin1 

country,  this  liinl  is  known  liy  tin-  name  of  Indian  lien. 
It  builds  US  IK  -4  iiinontr  (In-  L'l.iss,  in  swamps,  in  tin- 
most  secret  ami  leined  situations,  and  ils  \oting,  when 
tir-l  liatclird,  air  sml  to  lie  lil.ick. 


TilK  SMI'K. 

This  trilii-  of  birds  have  long  legs,  and  long  l>ills,  their 
In-ill,' of  modi-rate  length.      They  an-  iiiin-li  smaller 
(li  Hi  (lit-  rraiu-s  and  In-rons.     SOUK-  of  tlicin  live  on  (he 
,>re,  and  about  salt  marshes,  u  hilc  others  reside  far 
inland  on  the  bottlers  of  lakes,  mers  anil  ponds.     This 
triln-  includes  thf  Common  Snipe,  the  Curlew,  the  Wood- 
cock, and  many  ol :  In  neiii  i.il  their   shape-, 
and  halms  are   similar,  though    they  differ  in    M/C,   and 
more  or  less  in  color. 


TUK  LONG-BILLED  CURLEW. 
H"»  large  is  the  Lonff-billed  Curlew  ? 

The  Long-billed  Cmlew,  is  two  feet  in  length,  and  in 
•  •Mem,  three  I'ei  I  three  inches.  The  bill  is  eight  inches 
long,  and  crooked  towards  the  end. 

Whit  is  (he  color  of  this  bird  ? 

The  color  of  this  bird  on  the  upper  parts  is  black, 
spotted  with  pale  brown;  neck  reddish  brown,  sprinkled 
with  black  ;  under  pails  pale  brown  ;  throat  and  about 
the  eyes,  white  ;  legs,  pale  blue,  and  bill  black,  except 
near  the  root  of  the  lower  mandible,  w  hen-  ii  is  yellow. 

Wh.ii  is  the  stupe  of  this  bird  ? 

Iii  the  shape  of  this  bird  there  is  nothing  peculiar,  ex- 


cept the  length  of  the  bill,  which  is  somewhat  longer 

than    Us  whole  body. 

a  i-  llns  lnr.1  Iii  In-  f, 

The  Long-billed  Cmlew  is  a  native  of  America,  and  it 

!••  be,  found  no  win-re  else. 

This  bird  inhabits  chiefly,  the  sail  marshes  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  the  sea,  bill  is  also,  Minn  tin  i  on  the  dholes 

of  the  lakes  and  rivers  in  the  interior. 

When  on  the  sea  shore,  their  food  consists  of  small 
crabs,  and  snails,  which  they  obtain  by  running  their 
bills  into  the  sand.  When  awax  from  the  sea,  (hey  eat 
-  and  vat  ions  kinds  of  berries.  Those  taken  at  a 
distance  from  salt  marshes,  are  highly  esteemed  as  food, 
having  none  of  that  marshy  taste,  which  is  so  disagreea- 
ble in  those  taken  near  ihe  sea  shore. 

These  birds,  during  the  autumn,  assemble  in  flocks, 
and  are  seen  flying  high  in  the  air,  generally  in  the  form 
of  (he  letter  V,  now  and  then  tillering  a  loud  whistling 
note.  They  fly  with  great  swiftness,  and  when  about  to 
i  alight,  make  several  whirls  around  the  spot,  before  their 
descent  to  the  ground. 

Th.-  fml,  w  migrates  during  the  month  of  October, 
towards  the  south,  and  spends  ils  winter  in  a  warm 
climate. 

We  have  already  mentioned  several  striking  instances 
of  the  adaptation  of  the  forms  of  birds  to  their  peculiar 
modes  of  life,  and  perhaps  there  is  not  in  this  respect,  a 
more  striking  instance  than  that  of  the  Curlew. 

In  general,  it  is  the  law  of  nature  in  the  formation 
of  birds,  and  especially  the  Waders,  that  long  legs  should 
have  long  necks,  to  correspond  with  tin  in.  Were  this 
not  the  case,  it  is  obvious  that  the  fonn  would  be  very 
defective  and  inconvenient,  since  the  elevation  of  the 
body,  without  a  neck  of  sufficient  length  to  reach  the 
gionnJ.  would  prevent  the  bird  from  gathering  its  food. 
In  the  Curlew,  ihe  le^s  ,,re  ipiile  long,  but  the  neck  is 
short,  and  as  a  compensation  for  what  might  al  first  be 
considered  a  defect,  the  bill  is  lengthened  out  to  such 
an  extent,  as  to  seem  out  of  all  proportion  to  the  other 
parts;  and  it  is  inconsequence  of  this  disproportion,  that 
the  bird  is  enabled  to  reach  the  ground  and  gather  his 
food.  But  the  shortness  of  the  neck,  instead  of  being  a 
defect  is  undoubtedly  a  perfection, since  this  bird  gathers 
a  part  of  its  food  by  probing  the  sand  and  mud  with  ils 
long  lull.  A  short  neck,  therefore,  for  this  purpose,  is 
an  advantage,  as  it  is  much  stumper  and  more  effective 
than  a  long  one  in  introducing  the  bill  to  search  for  food. 

We  see,  therefore,  that  although  we  may,  al  fn>l 
thought,  set  down  sonic  of  the  works  of  the  Creator  as 
unbecoming  or  defective,  still,  when  we  come  to  incpiire 
into  their  u  innol  fail  to  arc  their  perfection,  and 

admire  the  wisdom  of  the  Maker. 


68 


THE    FLAMINGO. 


THE  RED  FLAMINGO. 


T  II  !•;    SPOON. BILL 


TilK  FLAMINGO. 

Tin-  Flamingo  (rihe  arc  formed,  in  sunn:  re>peci  -,  Lke 
the  Wader*.  .in.  I  in  others  like  (he  Swimmers.  Theii  legs 
and  necks  are  long  like  the  first,  and  they  an-  w<  -h-footed 
likf  tin-  last.  Ill  their  habits  anil  manneis,  they  how- 
ever must  resemble  the  Waders. 

TI1K  KKI)  KI.AMlNV.u. 


II.  .w  Uruf  i.i  tlio  Ke<l  Klnii. 

The  Hrd  Flamingo   is  six  feel  long,  from  the  i 
tin-  end  of  tin-  lull  ;  ami   from  the  bill  to  ihe  end  of  the 
tail,  four  feet  ,-i\  inch- 

it  ii  the  shape  of  thit  bin!  ' 

The  shape  of  this  hiril  is  so  peculiar,  that  without  good 
authority,  no  one  would  believe  that  nature  evei  formed 
a  creature  -.,  disproportionate  ;   it  being  chiefly  made  up 
of  leu*  ami  n-i  k.     F.very  part  is  small  in  proportion  to   ( 
the  length,  except  the  head,  which  seems  too  large  to  be 
suppoiied  liy  -»  slender  a  neck. 
i  r<l  ? 

This  Flammiro.  as  us  name  implies,  is  of  a  red  color, 
which  is  MTV  deep  ami  heuuliftll.  The  bill  towards  the 
end,  is  black,  and  from  thence  in  ihe  root  is  yellow.  The 

iplill  fea(hi-is  are  also  black.       Hut  eVei\    Jiarl  of  the  hild 

i  let  red. 
r<l  found  ? 

The  U«  d  Flamingo  is  found  in  most  warm  climates. 
It  is  seen  exery  where  on  tlie  coast  of  Africa  and  in 
South  America,  and  also  in  the  West  Indies  and  on  the 
shores  of  the  Mediterranean  sea. 

The  body  of  the  Flamingo  is  not  larger  than  that  of 
a  goose,  but  this  is  lifted  up  on  a  pair  of  red  legs  nearly 
three  feet  into  the  air,  while  the  neck  is  so  long  as  easily 
to  reach  ihe  ground  from  ibis  height.  As  they  stand  and 
walk  with  (heir  heads  erect,  a  flock  of  them  at  a  distance, 
is  said  to  appear  like  a  regiment  of  soldiers.  They  feed 
on  small  fish  and  water  insects,  which  (hey  catch  by 
plunging  llx-ir  heads  into  the  water.  Now  and  then  tin  y 
trample  in  the  mud  with  their  feet,  in  order  to  start  their 
prey. 

It  is  said  that  when  Europeans  first  landed  on  the 
shores  of  South  America,  they  found  these  birds  so  lame 
mid  neiHle  as  hardly  to  move  oul  of  ihe  way  when  lhe\ 
came  near  them.  They  were  not  acquainted  with  men. 
and  therefore  did  not  supped  any  harm  from  them.  If 
one  of  their  mnnher  was  shot  down,  the.  rest  of  ihe  (lock, 
in-trad  of  llyiiur  away,  looked  at  their  fallen  companion 
with  a  kind  of  stupid  astonishment,  probably  having 
ne\er  seen  the  like  before.  But  these  poor  birds  soon 
learned  by  >orn>wful  experience,  that  men  are  not  to  be 
trusted,  mid  al  the  present  day,  no  animal  is  more  shy. 
or  watchful  of  their  approach,  than  the  Flamingo. 
When  a  flock  of  them  are  feeding,  they  take  care  to  set 


a  walch,  which  shall  be  ready  In  i;i\e  wanting,  when 
any  d.umei  c.nnes  iirar.  It  the  mi, ml  .!i-.  .,\.  i  any  thing 
uncommon,  they  utter  a  loud  scream,  whu  h  -ounda  like 
a  trumpet,  and  n^  heating  ihiN  il,,-  wlmlo  flock  are  in- 
stantly on  the  win 

The  ne~t  of  this  bin)  i>  of  a  \ery  -ingular  construction. 
It  is  formed  n(  mud,  in  the  vhapi-  ni  a  Lille  hill,  with  a 
caMtv  in  ihe  lop.  This  hill  I*  made  so  high,  lhat  when 
the  bird  is  Minn;,'  on  her  egijs,  sin-  r.in  hi  hei  legs  fall 
down  over  ihe  side,  instead  of  placing  (hem  under  her, 
:her  birds.  In  (his  manner  she  sils  with  her  legiat 
full  length  on  one  side  of  her  nest.  Sometimes,  it  is  said, 
she  saves  herself  the  trouble  of  building  a  nest,  by  find- 
ing a  hollow  near  the  edge  of  some  rock,  where  she  lays 
her  eggs,  and  lets  hei  le^s  hang  over  the  side,  while  she 
sits  on  them. 


,,-_-~^^~ 


BILL 


TIIK  SPOON-1UI.I. 

The  Spoon-bill  tribe,  li'.e  the  cianeg,  have  long  legs, 

and  long  necks,  and  like  them   wade    in  shallow  water, 

and  live  by  gathering  (heir  food  from  the  bottom.      They 

do  not  appear  to  bo  a  very  peculiar  race,  except  in  the 

of  their  bills,  which  are  long,  large,  and  swell  out 

at  tin;  end  in  the  foiiu(of  a  spoon,  and  hence  (he  name 

tj>oon  bill.     The  several  species  of  this  family  have  simi- 

lar habits  and  manners,  and  differ  lillle  from  each  oilier, 

•pi  in  size  and  color. 

THK  KOSKATE  SPOON-BILL. 


l.iruc  if  (ha  Ruoeate  Syoon-bill  ? 
The   Roseate  Spoon-bill  is  iwo  feel  and  a  half  long, 
and,  with  the  wings  spread,  four  fi-et  in  extent. 
What  is  its  color  1 

Its  prevailing  color  is  lhat  of  a  pale  rose  ;  the  n< 
white;  ihe  upper  part  of  the  bill  is  black  ;  the  forehead 
green  ;  around  and  below  the  eye,  orange  ;  and  the  tail 
brownish  yellow. 

Win-re  i»  this  bird  found  ! 

The   K>-  .itr   Spoon.  lull   is   found   on   the   American 
const,  from  Georgia  to  Brazil. 

Wl-.il  is  the  shape  of  thi*  hirtl  .' 

The  shape  of  ibis  bird,  except  ihe  bill,  is  similar  to 
that  of  ihe  crane,  but  the  peculiar  shape  and  greal  size 
of  this  part  gives  ihe  Sp....n   bill    i   rerj   -insular   a|- 
:ince. 

The  hill  »f  (lie  pre-ent  species  is  about  seven   inches 

.  mil  so  large  at  the  upper  pail,  as  to  appear  like  a 

c.intinuaiion  of  the   head  ii.sclf.      From  the  uppei  pail  K 

•.•row.-  smaller   downward,    but    toward*  the  end  spread* 

out  a.  .mi  to  the  widlh  of  lw<>  inches  and  a  half. 


70 


THE    RAIL. 


THE  ROSEATE  SPOON-BILL. 

The  head  is  entirely  naked  of  feathers,  and  the  neck 
is  so  slightly  covered,  as  every  where  to  show  the  skin. 

A  bird  so  singularly  made  might  be  supposed  to  pos- 
sess some  peculiar  qualities,  or  hibits,  but  the  Spoon-bill, 
so  far  as  is  known,  leads  a  life  quite  similar  to  the  crane 
and  other  waders.  It  is,  however,  probable  that  there  is 
some  especial  advantage  which  the  bird  derives  from  the 
size  and  shape  of  his  bill,  because  nature  does  not  furnish 
such  peculiar  appendages,  without  some  useful  design. 

This  bird,  when  on  the  sea-shore,  lives  entirely  on 
fish,  but  away  from  the  sea,  he  eats  frogs,  and  insects. 

At  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  Spoon-bills  are  tamed, 
and  make  themselves  useful  in  the  houses,  by  destroying 
insects  and  reptiles. 


THE  RAIL. 

The  Kail  tribe  are  small  in  size,  when  compared  with 
the  birds  just  described  ;  but  they  are  very  active,  and 
quick  in  their  motions,  some  of  them  being  able  to  run 
with  surprising  swiftness.  They  live  on  snails  and  in- 
sects which  they  find  about  marshes.  They  build  their 
nesis  on  the  ground,  and  raise  a  large  brood.  They  are 
a  numerous  race,  some  of  the  species  being  found  in 
almost  every  country.  One  or  two  kinds  are  considered 
among  the  most  delicate  morsels  for  the  table. 


THE  CLAPPER  RAIL. 
How  large  is  the  Clapper  Rail  ? 

The  Clapper  Rail  measures  fourteen  inches  in  length, 
and  with  the  wings  spread,  eighteen  inches  in  extent. 
Its  bill  is  a  little  more  than  two  inches  long. 

What  color  is  this  bird  ? 

Its  prevailing  color  is  dark  brown,  which  on  the  upper 
parts  is  nearly  black,  spotted  with  light  brown.  The 
under  parts  are  lighter  brown,  and  the  throat  is  white. 

What  is  the  shape  of  this  Rail  ? 

The  bill  is  small,  long,  and  sharp  pointed ;  the  head 
small ;  the  tail  is  blunt,  turned  up  at  the  end,  and  so 
short  as  to  look  as  if  cut  off  with  a  pair  of  shears.  The 
legs  and  neck  are  of  moderate  length. 

Where  does  this  bird  live  .' 

The  Clapper  Rail  inhabits  the  shores  and  marshes  of 
the  Atlantic  ocean,  from  Connecticut  to  Florida.  It  is 
also  sometimes  found  on  the  rivers,  at  a  distance  from 
the  ocean. 

This  bird  is  known  by  several  names,  such  as  Mud 
Hen,  Meadow  Clapper,  Meadow  Hen,  and  Big  Rail. 

The  Clapper  Rail  migrates  to  the  south  on  the  ap- 
proach of  winter,  and  returns  again  lo  the  shores  of  New 
England  in  the  months  of  April  and  May.  The  arrival 
of  this  bird,  is  soon  known  to  those  who  live  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  salt  marshes,  as  they  announce  it  by  a  loud,  harsh 
kind  of  cackling,  somewhat  resembling  the  noise  made 
by  the  Guinea  hen.  This  noise  they  make  chiefly  during 
the  evening. 

These  birds  build  their  nests  on  the  ground,  among 
the  high  grass,  or  sedge,  which  grows  on  salt  marshes. 
They  are  constructed  with  much  labor  for  so  small  a 
bird,  being  generally  raised  a  foot  or  more  from  the 
ground,  probably  for  the  purpose  of  avoiding  the  rising 
of  the  tide.  Over  the  nest,  the  top  of  the  grass  is  drawn 
together,  and  the  leaves  woven  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
produce  a  kind  of  arch.  The  bird,  in  this  instance, 
seems  to  have  mistaken  her  instinct,  for  in  building  (his 
arch  to  protect  her  nest  from  the  crow  and  hawk,  she 
sets  up  a  mark  by  which  it  can  be  found  by  men  at  a 


T  u  i:   i-  i:  1. 1  c  A  N  a 


71 


considerable  distance,   ;uiil  men  arr  by    lai    her   ijreaie-i 
enemies.      KOI  lli'-  eggs  of  thi-  bird  arc  of  «<>  fun1  a  Ilavor 
as  to  be  pleferred  ID  all  olhei-  ;     ,n.|   people   who    live  in 
tin-   vicinity  i>l  sail  mai-hes,  m;ike   il  a   kind  of  In 
to  collect    (hem  ;   and  i'  n-.:le    man    will 

'  mes  collcft  a  hundred  do/en  in  a  d 

Tin-    Clapper    Kail    does    not    readily    lake    wing  and 

escape,  like    most  other  birds  but  when   pursued  \<y  the 

hunter  01   In-,  dog,  runs  through  the  gran,  winding  iu 

way  like  a  mouse;  snthat  r\  <  u  \\  hen  iu  wing  is  broken, 

il  is  nearly  impo-Mble  lo   catch    il.      When    driven  limn 
.  it    will  dive  into  the    walei,   and    come  up   on 
(he  oilier  side  of  a  diich,  iinti  again   hide   aiiion^   the 
thick  U  helore. 

So  close  do   these   Inrds    lie  among  the  grass,  that  a 
hunter,  with  his  dogs,  ina\  ^«  into  a  marsh,  \\herethere 
aiv  hundreds  of  them,  wilhout  seeing  a   single  Oil 
cepi  when  they  happen  lo  cross  a  path,  or  dive  into  the 
.      They  will  not  lly,  until  pursued,  that 

the  do-.:  i>  just  on  the  point  of  geiy.ini:  them,  when  they 
pc   with    iiieat  Mvifinex-.    hut  light  again 
within  a  lew  rods. 

The  Viririnian  Kail  resemble.,  the  Clapper  Rail  in 
color  and  habits,  and  dill'ers  from  it  chiefly  in  being  much 
smaller. 


SWIMMERS. 

This  order  of  birds  is  distinguished  from  all  others,  by 
having  a  lliin  membrane,  or  web,  between  their  (">•-. 
forming  a  foot,  whirh  may  be  spread  out,  or  folded  |.,- 
ijether,  like  u  fan.  Hence  they  are  called  uv It- footed, 
and  by  reason  of  this  form,  these  birds  are  enabled  to 
swim  with  wonderful  ease  and  swiftness;  for  when  (he 
foot  is  spread,  It  present"  a  wide  Miilare  to  the  water,  by 
which  the  bird  forces  itself  along,  and  when  folded,  il  is 
carried  forward  again,  without  imj>eding  her  motion. 
Most  of  these  birds  have  short  le^s,  whirh  are  well  adapt- 
ed to  iheir  nodes  of  life,  but  which  unfits  them  for  wading, 
or  foi  walking  with  much  facility  on  the  land. 

They  live  chiefly  on  roots,  grass  and  small  shell-fish, 
which  (hey  either  obtain  by  diving,  or  pick  lip  along  the 
.-bores. 

This  order  includes  the  Swan,  Duck,  Goose,  Pelican, 
and  many  others. 


T1IK  1'KLICANS. 

The  Pelicans  are  a  sociable  tribe  of  bird-,  and  at  cer- 
tain seasons  of  the  year  assemble  in  larire  flocks.  They 
live  on  fish,  which  they  catch  by  diving,  and  are  exceed- 


.olis  ill  their  appetite*.  Several  of  (he  spe- 
have  l.uue  Lays  atlae  hi  d  lo  the  lowei  mandible,  in 
which  they  store  (h.-ii  li-h  whirh  they  do  not  imin- 
alely  want.  Some  ./I  tln-ui  aie  trained  to  fishing,  and 
are  thus  inadi-  useful  i..  mankind.  Some  live  far  out  at 
BOB,  while  others  reside-  in  livers  and  lakes.  There  are 
M-\eial  :  this  bird,  wlmh  differ  considerably  from 

i-arh  olher. 

Till:  Cltr.AT  I'KI.ICAN. 

How  larijo  if  the  <  Iri-at  Pelican  ? 

The  (Jreat  Pel  caii  is  three  feet  and  a  half  long,  from 
the  lull  to  the  end  of  the  tail.  The  bill  \e  one  foot  and 
four  inches  in  length. 

<t  i-t  (lie  color  of  this  bird  ? 

Its  color  is  greyish  white,  or  ash  grey,  except  the  end* 
of  the  wings,  which  are  black. 

What  i*  the  shape  of  the  Pelicin  .' 

The  shape  of  its  legs,  body  and  neck,  is  similar  lo 
those  of  the  goose  and  swan.  But  its  bill  is  peculiarly 

wide  at  the  part  where  it  joins  ihe  head,  and  gradually 
tapers  like  a  wedge,  from  this  part  to  the  point. 
In  what  respect  does  the  Pelirnn  difler  from  other  birdi .' 

The  Pelican  differs  from  other  birds  in  having  a  large 
bag,  or  pouch,  attached  (o  the  under  mandible,  in  which 
he  stores  his  li-.li. 

Where  i»  this  bird  found  ! 

This  bird  is  found  in  North  and  South  America,  and 
in  Africa. 

The  Pelican  is  celebrated  chiefly  on  account  of  the 
enormous  bag,  or  pouch,  which,  as  already  stated,  is  at- 
tached to  his  under  jaw.  When  the  bird  goes  out  lo  fish, 
he  does  not,  like  olher  birds,  swallow  his  prey  one  after 
the  other,  as  fust  as  they  are  caught,  bul  he  places  them 
in  his  hag.  until  he  returns  to  the  shore,  when  they  are 
eaten  at  his  leisure,  or  given  to  his  young,  as  occasion 
requires.  This  bag  is  so  large,  as  (o  hold  two  do/en 
good  sized  fish  at  a  time. 

Labat,  a  traveler  of  credit,  seems  to  have  studied  (In- 
habits and  manners  of  (he  Pelican  with  much  attention, 
and  ftoin  him  we  give  the  following  account. 

This  bird  has  strong  Winus  and  a  llnck  plumage  all 
over  the  body.  His  eyes  are  small,  and  there  is  a  nd- 
ileus,  and  kind  of  melancholy  iu  his  countenance,  lie 
i-,  indeed,  dull,  slow  of  flii.'hl.  and  fit  very  la/y,  that 
nothing  but  the  rails  of  hunger  will  drive  him  to  do 
thing. 

When  hungry,  ami   obliged  to  go  out  a  flatting,  the J 

li-e   foily  or  fiflv  feet  above    the  silllare  ol    (he    sea,  and 

fly  slowly  iilmiiT,  turning  one  eye  downwauls  io  \\.,tih 
for  their  prey.  When  they  see  a  fish  near  enough  lo 
the  surlare  of  the  water  for  their  purpose,  they  dart 
down  and  sei/.e  il,  with  the  <jri-;iti  -t  certainty,  and  store 
il  in  their  pouches.  They  (hen  rise  again,  though  not 


72 


THE    PELICANS 


THE  UREA!'  PELICAN. 


without  difficulty  and  labor,  and  proceed  as  before.  This 
work  they  continue,  until  their  pouches  are  full,  when 
they  proceed  to  the  shore,  and  having  taken  a  comforta- 
ble seat,  they  proceed  to  make  a  most  abundant  meal 
on  the  fruits  of  their  labor.  But  though  they  carry  as 
many  fish  at  once,  as  would  serve  a  large  party  at  a  din- 
ner, still  the  work  of  the  morning  does  not  procure  them 
sufficient  food  for  the  day,  for  in  the  afternoon  they  have 
another  call  of  hunger,  which  they  go  forth  to  satisfy 
before  the  approach  of  night. 

At  evening,  when  their  fishing  is  over,  they  retire  a 
little  way  from  the  shore,  where  they  perch  on  the  tall- 
est trees  they  can  find,  for  the  night.  The  figure  they 
cut  here,  is  very  odd  and  ridiculous.  Their  great  flat 
feet,  and  their  clumsy,  goose-like  appearance,  so  out  of 
place,  when  perched,  with  the  airy  birds  of  the  forest, 
on  the  highest  places,  lliat  no  one  can  witness  such  a 
display, without  amusement.  It  looks  like  an  ambitious 
attempt  to  associate  wilh  their  more  decent  neighbors, 
though  by  doing  so,  they  only  make  themselves  still 
more  ridiculous  by  the  companion. 

In  the  day-time,  except  when  they  are  laboring  to  sat- 
isfy their  appetites,  these"  lazy  birds  spend  their  time  in 
the  most  dismal  solemnity.  They  sit  perfectly  still,  with 
their  chins  resting  on  their  breasts,  and  to  appearance, 
half  asleep.  Thus  they  remain,  fixed  and  motionless, 
until  driven  by  hunger,  again  to  go  forth  in  search  of 
provisions. 


Thus,  like  some  human  beings,  of  equal  value  to  the 
world,  do  they  spend  their  lives  between  eating  and 
sleeping. 

The  same  indolent  habits  attend  them  when  they  sit 
upon  their  eggs  and  hatch  their  young,  a  time  when  all 
other  birds  are  particularly  active  and  vigilant. 

The  female  lays  her  eggs  on  the  sand,  without  the 
least  preparation  of  a  nest,  and  while  she  is  sitting  on 
them,  a  person  may  go  and  take  them  all  from  under 
her,  without  her  showing  any  signs  of  anger,  or  any 
attempts  at  defense.  When  her  young  are  hatched,  she 
feeds  them  on  fish,  but  it  is  only  when  they  utter  cries  of 
distress  for  food,  that  she  is  induced  to  go  out  and  bring 
them  a  supply. 

Our  author  says  that  he  took  two  of  these  birds  when 
young,  and  tied  them  to  a  post,  when  he  had  the  pleas- 
ure of  seeing  the  mother  come  and  feed  them  from  her 
pouch.  The  young  ones  first  took  the  fish,  and  put  them 
into  their  own  pouches,  and  then  eat  them  at  their  leis- 
ure, or  as  they  became  hungry. 

The  Pelican  is  easily  lamed,  and  is  a  good  natured  and 
harmless  bird,  though  very  unclean  and  disagreeable. 
In  some  countries,  these  latter  qualities  are,  however, 
overlooked,  and  the  Pelicans  are  trained  to  catch  fish  for 
their  masters.  The  natives  of  some  parts  of  South  Amer- 
ica, we  are  told,  have  been  known  to  educate  them  with 
so  much  care,  that  they  would  go  out  without  any  one  to 


THE    CORMORANT. 


73 


ilir«-ci  them,  and  havinircaiiL'lit  their  ponchos  full  of  fish, 
would  liiinu'  tin-in  to  thru  masters. 

'I'hr  Chin.--,-  train  them  for  tin-  s.-iini-  pi  .nd  lo 

MI    (In-ill    fr swallow  MS',-  any    nl"  the    li-li    while 

away,  they  In-  a  slmi-  .uonnd  their  nerks,  ju-t  under  the 
tlirn.-il.  The  hird  Ix-ini:  thus  unable  to  srtli-fy  hi-  hunger 

wln-ii  aw:iy  fr home,  goes  In  Ins  in.i-ii-r,  \\  ho  takes  off 

tin-  -Hiii-.  anil  give*  him  a  lew  li-h  as  a  rewaid  fur  the 
lahois  of  tin-  day.  Thus  is  ihr  poor  hird  compelled  (.1 
work  for  his  master  for  a  small  part  of  In*  •• MM  earn 

Tin-  Pelican  lives  to  a  • 

thai  was  known  io  In-    eighty  years  old,  and  was 
such  a  la\onte  with  the  emperoi  Maximilian,  that  wln-r- 


!."   niairhed  with  Ins  army,  lie  always  ordered  ln.-> 
nd  him. 


TI1K  CORMORANT. 

The  Cormorant  trihe.  like  the  Pelicans,  live  on  fUh, 
which  they  catch  liy  diving.     They  ore  a  most  vor.' 

ml  employ  most  of  their  time  in  fishing  for  their 
own  provisions.  One  of  this  family  has  a  small  pouch 
attached  to  the  lower  mandilde,  like  the  pelican,  but  it 
does  not  appear  lo  be  used  for  the  .-ami-  pin  pose.  The 

(' mon  Cormorant  and  the  Fishing  Cormorant,  an-  ih<- 

two  -peries  best  known,  but  they  differ  very   little  from 
e.n-li  other  in  appearance. 


THK.  K 


M;  CORMORANT. 


HCAV  hnre  i-i  tlic  Ki-liing  Cormorant  ? 

The  Fishing  Cormorant  tt  three  feet  long,  and  with 
the  Winers  spread,  alioiil  six  feet  in  i-Meiil. 

U'liat  is  :  :nl  1 

Its  color,  except  a  white  spot   under  the   ihroal,  and 
another  on  each  side,  is  entirely  hlnck. 
What  is  the  shape  of  tins  bird  .' 

The   shape  of  the  Cormorant  is  Letween  thai  of  the 


goose  and   that  of  the   falcon. 
11 


Like   the   goose,  it  has 


short  legs,  and  is  \ve!>- footed,  hut  (he  shape  of  its  bodyi 
ii'  rk  and  hill,  are  more  like  those  of  the  falcon.  It-  liill 
is  lonir,  and  the  upper  mandilile  is  lient.like  a  hook  over 
the  end  of  the  lower  one. 

are  ? 

This  I. ml  i-  (omul  m  Asia,  and  particularly  m  China, 
where  it  inhabits  the  l>a><  and  rivers  in  ahimdan 

This  Cormorant  lives  i  nl  n  ly  0:1  li-h.  wlnrh  h« -rairhe* 
by  divine, and  is  exceedingly  expert  in  sei'/irif;  and  hold- 


74 


TH  E    D  ARTER. 


ing  his  prey.  He  cares  not  whether  the  water  be  fresh 
or  salt,  provided  it  contains  an  abundance  of  the  finny 
race;  and  so  craving  is  his  appetite,  that  he  not  only 
fishes  by  day,  but  goes  forth  by  night  in  search  of 
plunder. 

This  bird  is  esteemed  the  best  fisher  of  all  the  feath- 
ered race,  and  although  large,  and  generally  very  fat, 
he  flies  with  great  swiftness  and  strength,  and  spends 
most  of  his  time  on  the  wing.  In  this  respect  he  differs 
entirely  from  the  pelican,  who  fishes  only  to  prevent 
actual  starvation. 

He  pursues  his  prey  with  the  most  untiling  activity, 
rising  to  a  great  height  over  the  water,  and  seaiching  it 
carefully  with  his  eye.  The  moment  he  discovers  a  fish, 
he  drops  down  as  though  dead,  but  seldom  rises  again 
without  success.  He  seizes  his  prey  with  his  bill,  and 
not  like  the  fish-hawk,  with  his  claws.  When  he  hap- 
pens to  strike  a  fish  near  the  tail,  he  gives  it  a  toss  into 
the  air,  catches  it  again  with  dexterity,  and  then  swallows 
it  head  foremost. 

Travelers  tell  us,  that  in  many  parts  of  China,  Cormo- 
rants are  educated  and  trained  to  fishing,  as  dogs  are 
trained  to  hunting  in  other  countries,  and  that  they  are 
under  such  good  discipline,  that  one  man  can  manage  a 
hundred  of  them  at  a  time. 

The  fisherman  carries  them  out  into  the  lake,  or  other 
fishing  place,  perched  on  the  sides  of  his  boat,  where  they 
continue  quiet,  in  expectation  of  his  orders  to  begin  the 
sport.  When  arrived  at  the  proper  place,  he  gives  them 
a  signal,  or  word  of  command,  when  they  all  fly  differ- 
ent ways,  each  one  to  fulfil  his  task.  It  is  said  to  be  very 
pleasant,  at  this  time,  to  witness  the  sagacity  with  which 
they  portion  out,  among  themselves,  the  different  parts 
of  the  fishing  ground,  each  one  taking  the  part  assigned 
him,  without  intruding  on  that  of  another. 

They  fly  about  over  the  water  with  great  swiftness, 
and  hunt  with  as  much  eagerness  as  a  pack  of  hounds. 
They  dive,  rise  again,  and  again  plunge  into  the  water, 
and  do  not  give  up  the  pursuit  until  the  fish  is  caught, 
when  they  do  not  fail  to  carry  it  directly  to  their  master, 
who  sits  waiting  for  them  in  his  boat.  If  any  bird  hap- 
pens to  seize  a  fish,  which  is  too  heavy  for  him  to  carry, 
the  next  flies  to  his  help,  and  gives  him  a  lift,  one  taking 
it  by  the  head,  and  the  other  by  the  tail,  and  in  this 
manner  they  carry  it  to  the  boat. 

Having  delivered  their  fish,  they  sit  for  a  few  moments 
on  some  part  of  the  boat,  and  then  again  go  in  search  of 
another.  When  tired,  they  are  permitted  to  rest  awhile, 
but  are  never  fed  until  their  day's  work  is  done. 

All  the  time  they  are  fishing,  they  have  a  string  tied 
around  their  necks,  so  as  to  prevent  their  swallowing, 
otherwise  they  would  eat  so  many  fish,  as  to  be  neither 
able,  nor  willing,  to  catch  more.  It  is  therefore  hunger 


only,  and  the  hope  of  satisfying  their  appetites,  that  in- 
duces these  birds  to  labor  for  their  masters.  At  night, 
when  the  labor  of  the  day  is  finished,  they  are  well  fed, 
and  are  thus  prepared  to  go  to  their  work  again  in  the 
morning. 

Sir  George  Stannton  says,  that  on  some  of  the  large 
lakes  in  China,  there  are  thousands  of  rafts,  or  boats, 
built  entirely  for  this  kind  of  fishing,  and  that  it  is  as- 
tonishing to  see  the  enormous  size  of  the  fish  which  these 
birds  will  catch  and  carry  to  their  masters. 

In  England  the  same  mode  of  fishing  was  anciently 
in  fashion,  but  instead  of  being  the  business  of  common 
fishermen,  it  was  one  of  the  royal  sports.  Even  so  late 
as  the  reign  of  king  Charles  the  Second,  this  sport  was 
still  in  estimation,  for  it  appears  from  history,  that  among 
the  officers  of  that  kingt  there  was  one,  who  had  the  title 
of  Master  of  Cormorants. 


THE  DARTER. 

[This  is  also  called  Snake-bird,  from  the  resemblance  of  his  head  and 
neck  to  aierpent.] 

How  large  is  the  Darter  ? 

The  Darter  is  three  feet  in  length,  and  with  the  wings 
spread,  five  feet  in  extent.     The  bill  is  four  inches  long. 
What  is  the  color  of  this  bird  ? 

The  color  of  its  neck,  and  all  the  under  parts,  is  green- 
ish black;  the  tail  is  black,  tipped  with  white  ;  the  back 
and  sides  are  black  ;  the  sides  spotted  with  white  ;  quill 
feathers  white  ;  lower  mandible,  and  around  the  eyes, 
yellow  ;  from  the  crown  of  the  head,  awhile  stripe  runs 
half  way  down  the  neck. 

What  is  the  shape  of  this  bird  ? 

The  form  of  the  Darter  is  slender  and  beautiful  :  the 
neck  is  long,  and  is  joined  to  the  body  by  a  graceful 
swell  towards  the  breast ;  the  head  is  small,  ending  in  a 
long,  sharp  pointed  bill ;  the  legs  are  only  about  three 
inches  long,  and  the  feet  are  webbed.  The  aspect  of 
the  head  and  bill  is  spiteful  and  dangerous. 

Where  is  this  bird  found  .' 

This  bird  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  Carolinas,  Georgia 
and  Florida.  It  is  also  found  in  South  America,  China, 
and  other  warm  countries. 

This  biid  lives  on  fish,  which  he  strikes  with  his  sharp 
bill,  and  by  which  they  are  pierced,  as  with  a  dart,  and 
hence  the  name  Darter. 

They  build  their  nests  on  trees  and  rocks,  always 
taking  care,  however,  that  the  place  is  so  near  the  water, 
that  they  can  dive  into  it  in  time  of  danger. 

Mr.  Bartram,  who  saw  these  birds  in  Florida,  says,  that 
they  delight  to  sit  in  little  communities,  on  the  dry 
limbs  of  trees,  hanging  over  the  still  water,  in  order  to 


THE    DART  1.  R  , 


75 


THE  DARTER, 
cool  themselves,  and  nt  the  same  time  to  see  their  images   ;    mala,  and  the  Penguin  outswims  nil  the  feathered  tribes. 


in  tin-  water,  ;ia  in  a  looking  glass.  At  such  times,  if 
any  one  approaches  them,  they  drop  off  the  limbs  into 
the  water,  as  it"  dead,  and  for  a  minute  or  two  are  not  to 
be  seen,  when  on  a  sudden,  at  a  great  distance,  their 
long  slender  heads  and  necks  appear  like  a  snake,  rising 
erect  out  of  the  water.  When  they  -wmi,  no  part  of 
them  is  lobe  seen,  except  tin-  head  and  neck,  and  some- 
times the  tip  of  the  tail.  In  the  heat  of  the  day,  they 
are  seen  in  irreat  numbers,  sailing  very  high  in  the  air 
over  the  lake-  and  rivers. 

They  are  exceedingly  shy,  and  cunning  in  escaping 
from  the  gunner.  When  shot  at  in  the  water,  they 
dive  ut  the  Hash  of  the  gun,  and  do  not  come  up  again, 
until  they  get  to  the  distance  of  several  hundred  yards  ; 
and  it  is  in  vain  to  try,  after  having  once  missed  them, 
to  approacli  within  gun  shot  again.  So  that  the  most 
experienced  sport-man  is  often  obliged  to  give  over  tin- 
day's  fowling,  without  obtaining  a  single  specimen  of 
this  bird. 


THE  PENGUIN. 

The  Penguin  secni-  l<>  hold  the  same  plare  among  tin- 
water  bird-,  that  (he  Ostrich  does  amoni:  the  land  birds. 
Both  of  them  have  wings,  but  neither  of  them  can  fly. 
The  ostrich  is  the  swiftest  runner  among  the  land  ani- 


The  Penguins  walk  erect,  when  they  walk  at  all,  but 
their  legs  are  so  short,  that  their  gait  is  rather  a  waddle 
than  a  walk.  Their  clothing  of  feathers  is  extremely 
thick  and  warm.  They  sit  erect  on  their  eggs,  and 
cackle  like  geese,  but  in  a  hoarser  voice. 

There  are  several  species  of  this  family,  all  having 
the  saute  shapes,  and  differing  only  in  size  and  color. 

THE  PATAGONIAN  PK.NCUIN. 
Hmv  l.ir-ii-  is  tin-  Patagonian  Penguin  ? 

The  Patagonian  Penguin,  as  it  stands  on  the  ground, 
is  about  three  feet  high. 

What  is  the  color  of  (hit  bird  ? 

Its  color,  from  the  back  of  the  head  downwards,  inclu- 
ding all  the  back  parts,  is  black.  The  throat  is  also 
black.  The  front  parts,  beginning  with  a  line  on  the 
middle  of  the  head,  which  spreads  over  the  lire.-i>(,  and 

down  tO  the   feel,   i-  entirely  white. 
What  it  the  shape  of  ill.-  IV;i_;iim  ? 

The  shape  of  the  Penguin  is  very  singular.  The  fi-i  i 
are  placed  so  far  back,  that  it  cannot,  like  other  birds, 
balance  itself  on  them,  and  it  is  therefore  obliged  to 
-i.ind  erect,  like  a  man.  Iis  win^s  are  so  small,  and  the 
feathers  on  them  so  short,  that  they  appear  like  fins, 
rather  than  like  the  wings  of  other  birds,  and  its  feathers 
are  so  hard  and  stiff,  that  they  are  more  like  scales  than 
plum 

What  country  do  these  hirds  inhabit  ? 

These  birds  inhabit  many  of  the  South  Sea  islands, 


76 


THE    PENGUIN. 


THE  PATAGONIAN  PENGUIN. 

and  the  coasts  of  South  America,  particularly  Pata- 
gonia. 

Penguins  assemble  in  flocks,  and  when  they  stand  on 
the  shore  at  a  distance,  they  are  said  to  resemble  a  num- 
ber of  children,  dressed  in  black,  with  white  aprons. 

These  birds  are  said  to  be  like  men,  like  fowls,  and 
like  fishes.  Like  men,  they  walk  upright ;  like  fowls, 
they  are  clothed  with  feathers  ;  and  like  fishes,  they 
paddle  themselves  along  with  their  wings  instead  of  fins. 

The  Penguins  live  on  fish,  and  are  exceedingly  ex- 
pert divers,  as  well  as  swimmers.  The  position  of  their 
legs,  which  renders  them  so  awkward  on  the  land,  are 
admirably  adapted  to  their  residence  in  the  water. 

On  the  land,  no  creature  can  be  more  defenseless,  for 
they  have  neither  arms  to  fight  with,  nor  legs  to  run 


away.  But  in  the  water,  no  bird  is  more  difficult  (o 
approach,  or  more  difficult  to  shoot  when  near.  If  they 
suspect,  that  they  are  in  the  least  the  objects  of  pursuit 
they  instantly  sink  into  the  water,  so  as  to  show  nothing 
but  their  bills,  and  if  the  pursuit  is  continued,  they  dive, 
and  come  up  at  such  a  distance  as  entirely  to  escape 
being  seen  again. 

The  nest  of  the  Penguin  is  made  according  to  her 
circumstances,  or  the  danger  to  which  she  is  exposed. 
In  places  where  she  does  not  fear  the  intrusion  of  man, 
her  eggs  are  hatched  on  the  sand,  without  the  prepara- 
tion of  a  nest.  But  in  places  which  are  frequented  by 
men,  she  digs  a  hole  several  feet  deep  into  the  earth  on 
the  side  of  a  bank,  and  in  it  builds  her  nest.  In  the 
work  of  digging,  it  is  said  they  join  and  assist  each  other, 
and  that  when  it  is  done,  several  of  them  hatch  tlicir 
young  in  one  nest,  each  laying  a  single  egg. 

The  flesh  of  this  bird,  though  very  fat,  is  so  fishy,  and 
disagreeable  to  the  taste,  as  never  to  be  eaten. 


THE  GOOSE. 

The  Goose  tribe  have  strong,  wide,  and  flat  bills,  the 
upper  mandible  being  a  little  longer  than  the  lower  one, 
and  ending  in  a  blunt,  round  point,  like  the  finger  nail. 
Both  mandibles  are  furnished  with  small  teeth,  like  a 
saw,  for  the  better  holding  their  food.  The  toes  are  four 
in  number,  three  of  which  are  united  by  a  membrane. 
Their  necks  are  of  considerable  length,  but  their  legs 
are  short,  and  fitted  for  swimming,  rather  than  walking. 
Some  of  this  tribe,  as  the  common  Goose,  are  domesti- 
cated, and  live  on  corn,  while  others  remain  wild,  and 
eat  roots,  and  small  shell-fish,  which  they  gather  from 
the  water. 

THE  WILD  GOOSE. 

How  large  is  the  Wild  Goose  ? 

The  Wild  Goose  is  three  feet  long,  from  the  bill  to  the 
end  of  the  tail;  and  with  the  wings  spread,  about  five 
feet  in  extent. 

What  is  the  color  of  this  fowl  ? 

In  color,  the  back  part  of  the  head  and  neck  are  black; 
the  back  is  brown;  chin,  and  upper  part  of  the  bieast, 
white  ;  the  under  parts,  pale  brown. 

Where  does  the  Wild  Goose  live  ? 

The  Wild  Goose  is  very  generally  known  throughout 
the  United  States.  It  however,  resides  in  the  country 
only  during  the  winter.  In  the  spring  it  migrates  to  the 
north,  and  returns  again  on  the  commencement  of  the 
cold  season. 

Every  person  is  acquainted  with  these  birds,  at  least  so 


T  II  K    C  OOSE- 


77 


TilK  WILD  00 

far  as  lo  liavc  often  wilnetted  their  migratory  voyages  in        \Vln-n  the  tfeesc  fly  over  this  place,  these   men  imitate 

iln-ir  notes  so  exacily  thai  llic  (look  will  answer,  .-mil  at 


tlic  spring  urn!  fall.  Their  flight  is  generally  so  high  in 
the  ;iir  as  tn  place  them  beyond  tin-  reach  of  the  sports- 
man's gun.  They  have  great  power  of  wing,  and 
although  their  flight  is  not  so  swifl  as  that  of  the  pigeon, 
and  pome  ether  hirds,  they  proceed  with  a  steady  and 
business-like  manner,  which,  in  a  few  <l,i\s  carries  them 
to  a  vast  distance.  After  they  begin  their  journey,  they 
do  not  rest,  night  or  day,  but,  guided  by  tbat  mysterious 
faculty,  called  instinct,  they  wing  their  way,  in  a  direct 
line  from  the  shores  of  tbc  Atlantic,  lo  the  frozen  regions 
of  the  north.  There,  having  reared  their  young,  guided 
by  the  same  instinctive  power,  they  return  again  lo  the 
warmer  regions  of  the  south.  Ever  since  the  memory  of 
man,  these  migrations  have  been  as  constant  as  the  return 
of  autumn  and  spring. 

There  is  a  belief  that  these  birds  lay  and  hatch  their 
young  in  Canada,  or  on  the  shores  of  the  northern  lakes, 
and  this  is  true  with  respect  to  a  few  stragglers,  but 
no  one  has  yet  pretended  lo  have  seen  their  general 
breeding  places  in  any  part  of  the  world.  Large  flocks 
of  them  are  every  year  seen  flying  over  the  coasts  of 
Greenland,  and  Iceland,  still  pursuing  their  way  to  the 
norlh  ;  and  il  is  not  improbable  that  they  build  their 
nests  under  the  pole  itself,  where,  save  themselves,  no 
living  creature  is  «.-en,  and  where  the  eye  of  man  will 
never  penetrate. 

No  bird  is  more  eagerly  pursued  by  the  fowler  than 
this.  The  moment  they  arrive  from  the  cold  and  silent 
regions  of  the  pole,  at  any  inhabited  land,  the  attack  on 
them  commences.  At  Hudson's  Bay,  the  English  Com. 
pany's  settlement  depend  much  on  these  fowl  as  a  means 
of  subsistence  through  the  year.  Every  spring  and  fall, 
therefore,  preparations  are  made  for  their  destruction  in 
a  systematic  manner.  A  line  of  huts  in  built  for  this 
purpose,  extending  east  and  west,  and  placed  within 
gun-shot  of  each  other.  In  each  of  these  huts  a  man  is 
stationed,  having  with  him  two  or  three  loaded  gunc. 


the  same  lime  wheel  around,  in  order  lo  discover  their 
companion,  and  alight  with  him.  When  they  come 
within  gun-shot,  these  sportsmen  discharge  first  one  gun, 
and  then  another,  and  continue  the  fire  at  them,  until 
(bey  are  out  of  reach.  In  this  way,  great  numbers  are 
destroyed,  so  that  at  this  single  place,  il  is  said  in  some 
seasons,  they  kill  three  or  four  thousand.  In  the  spring 
they  are  salted,  and  packed  away  for  the  summer's  use, 
and  in  the.  fall  they  are  frozen  and  kept  fresh  for  the 
winter's  consumption.  Their  feathers  from  this  place, 
are  an  article  of  commerce,  and  are  sent  to  England  for 
sale. 

The  disposition  to  destroy  these  poor  birds  on  account 
of  their  flesh,  seems  to  be  much  the  same  every  where 
as  at  Hudson's  Bay,  though  the  system  of  carnage  is  no 
where  else  so  regularly  carried  on.  When  ihey  are 
obliged  to  alighl  on  account  of  the  fog, or  when  their  flight 
is  irregular,  and  near  the  earth,  because  they  have  lost 
their  leader,  they  always  appear  in  greal  distress,  proba- 
bly knowing  from  experience, their  danger  in  going  near 
1 1  if  habitations  of  men.  But  instead  of  showing  compas- 
sion for  their  sufferings,  and  permitting  the  poor  bewil- 
dered strangers  to  descend  and  rest  on  the  earth  in  pence 
and  safely,  the  only  reception  they  meet  with  is  death 
and  destruction. 

These  bird?,  are  easily  tamed  and  domesticated,  and 
in  various  paitsof  this  country  are  raised,  like  oilier 
ireese,  for  their  feathers  and  flesh.  In  England,  France 
and  Germany,  they  have  lon^r  been  kept  for  these  pur- 
poses. On  the  approach  of  spring,  however,  they  are 
said  always  lo  show  symptoms  of  uneasiness  and  at  the 
usual  time  of  their  annual  migrations,  they  try  to  effect 
their  escape.  Some  of  them,  whose  wines  ha\el,..-n 
cut,  so  that  they  could  nol  fly.  in  then  anxiety  lo  follow 
their  companions,  which  they  hear  in  the  air,ha\e  been 
known  to  travel  several  mile*  to  the  noilhon  foot.  These 


78 


THE    SWAN. 


tame  geese  always  hail  every  flock  of  their  own  kind 
that  passes  over  them,  and  the  salute  is  generally  return- 
ed by  the  voyagers,  who  are  only  prevented  from  alight- 
ing, by  seeing  the  habitations  of  men. 

Sometimes,  when  Wild  Geese  have  been  taken  and 
tamed,  on  account  of  their  wounds,  they  have,  on  re- 
covering, joined  their  companions  in  the  air,  and  pro- 
ceeded with  them  on  their  voyage  to  the  north.  An 
interesting  case  of  this  kind  is  related  in  Wilson's  Orni- 
thology. 

Mr.  Platt,  a  respectable  farmer  on  Long  Island,  wound- 
ed a  Wild  Goose  in  such  a  manner,  that  he  caught  and 
carried  it  home  with  him.  It  proved  to  be  a  female,  and 
turning  it  into  his  yard,  with  a  flock  of  tame  geese,  it  soon 
became  quite  familiar,  and  in  a  little  time  the  wounded 
wing  got  entirely  well.  In  the  following  spring,  when 
the  Wild  Geese  were  migrating  to  the  north,  a  flock  hap- 


pening to  pass  over  Mr.  Plait's  barn-yard,  this  Goose, 
hearing  their  well  known  voices,  and  not  being  quite 
contented  with  her  situation,  instantly  mounted  into  the 
air, — joined  the  flock,  and  disappeared  with  them.  Mr. 
Platt  was  sorry  for  the  loss  of  his  favorite  Goose,  and  of 
course  never  expected  to  see  her  again.  But  in  the 
autumn,  when  these  birds  migrate  to  the  south,  he  hap- 
pened to  be  standing  in  his  yard,  when  a  flock  of  them 
appeared  in  a  direction  to  pass  over  him.  While  look- 
ing at  them,  he  saw  three  fly  out  from  among  the  rest, 
and  after  wheeling  several  times  around,  they  came 
down,  and  to  his  astonishment  alighted  in  his  yard.  In 
a  few  moments,  Mr.  Platt  saw  that  one  of  these  was  his 
lost  favorite,  which  had  escaped  the  spring  before.  She 
had  been  with  her  companions  to  the  frozen  regions  of 
the  north,  where  having  hatched  and  reared  her  young, 
she  now  returned  with  her  little  family  to  her  old  master. 


THE  SWAN. 


How  large  ia  the  Swan  ? 

The  Swan  is  five  feet  long,  and  with  the  wings  spread,   j 
seven  feet  and  a  half  in   extent.     His  weight  is  about 
twenty-five  pounds. 

What  kind  of  bird  is  the  Swan  ? 

This  bird,  although  of  the  goose  kind,  is  by  far  supe- 
rior in  size  and  elegance  to  any  other  of  this  tribe. 

The  form  of  the  Swan  has  ever  been  cclebiated  for  its 
beauty  and  gracefulness.  On  the  land,  its  short  legs  and 
waddling  gait,  it  is  true,  make  but  an  indifferent  figure. 
But  on  its  proper  element,  when  it  proudly  rows  itself 
along,  with  its  body  in  appearance  only  just  touching 
the  water,  and  its  head  elevated  in  the  air,  no  bird  can 
compare  with  this  in  dignity  of  form  or  gracefulness  of 
movement. 


Every  part  of  the  Swan  seems  to  be  formed  in  the  most 
regular  and  charming  proportions.  Its  profile  presents 
an  outline  of  curves,  which  are  the  most  easy,  elegant 
and  pleasing  that  can  be  conceived,  and  when  the  bird 
is  in  motion,  these  lines  constantly  receive  new  graces 
by  the  changes  they  undergo. 

This  bird  is  as  delicate  in  its  appetite  as  it  is  elegant 
in  its  form.  Its  food  is  corn,  bread,  some  kinds  of  seeds, 
and  herbs  which  grow  by  the  water  side. 

The  Swan  has  been  long  domesticated,  but  several 
species  are  also  found  in  the  wild  state. 

She  builds  her  nest  with  sticks  and  grass,  by  the  side 
of  some  river  or  lake,  always  selecting,  if  she  can,  an 
island  for  this  purpose,  probably  on  account  of  its  greater 


T  HE    DUCK 


safety  from  the  approach  of  animals.  The  pair  assist 
ii  other  in  this  work,  and  tin-  female  In  comes  so  at- 
tached to  the  place  vvheie  her  fir^-i  nest  is  built,  «e  com- 
monly to  repair  and  occupy  it  for  many  years  in  suc- 
cession. 

\Vlirii  the  yonin:  are  hatched,  the  old  ones  are  exceed- 
mgh  proud  of  their  charge,  and  careful  to  protect  iliein 
from  harm.  At  tins  time  it  is  .  ...-  for  any  pel  son 

to  (lislmb  the  brood,  or  In  approach  near  them,  for  the 
parents  are  so  violent  in  defending  them,  and  strike  vuth 
such  force  with  tin-  wings,  as  to  ln-al  a  person  to  the 
ground,  or  hreak  his  leg  or  aim. 

One  of  these  birds,  while  .sitting on  her  nest,  observed 
a  fox  swimming  towards  her.  She  instantly  darted  into 

the  water,  swam  out  to  him,  and  c menced  the  attack. 

The  fo\  tried  every  way  to  gain  the  shore,  where  he 
could  defend  himself  to  better  advantage;  hut  the  Swan 
beat  him  with  her  win^s  with  such  force,  thai  he  could 
neither  swim  forward,  nor  keep  his  head  above  the  water; 
and  she  finally  succeeded  in  drowning  him  on  the  spot. 
After  this,  in  the  sight  of  several  pel  sons  who  saw  the 
battle,  she  returned  to  her  nest  in  triumph. 

The  Swan  sits  two  months  on  her  eggs,  and  the  birds 
are  a  year  in  growing  to  their  full  size.  They  live  to  a 
very  great  age.  Dr.  Goldsmith  thinks  that  the  common 
goose  will  live  a  hundred  years,  and  says  that  it  is  not  im- 
probable the  Swan  may  live  much  longer. 

These  birds  were  formeily  held  in  such  high  estima- 
tion in  England,  that  king  Edward  the  Fourth  passed  a 
law,  forbidding  any  person,  not  of  the  royal  family,  to 
keep  Swans,  unless  he  was  a  gentleman  by  birth,  and 
had  a  certain  income  per  year.  By  another  law,  made 
afterwards,  the  punishment  for  stealing  the  eggs  of  this 
bird,  was  imprisonment  for  one  year  and  a  day,  and  in 
addition  to  this,  a  fine  according  to  the  king's  will. 


THE  DUCK. 

The  Duck  tribe  differs  from  the  goose,  chiefly  in  size 
and  color,  their  form  and  habits  being  similar  to  those  of 
the  geese.  Like  the  geese,  some  of  this  tribe  have  been 
long  domesticated,  while  most  of  the  species  remain 
wild. 

The  Ducks,  through  all  their  varieties,  are  much  alike 
in  most  of  their  manners  and  habits.  They  all  dive,  fly 
orswim,  as  occasion  requires.  Most  of  them  inhabit  the 
saltwater,  but  some  kinds  live  entirely  among  rivers  and 
lakes,  and  never  approach  the  sea. 

Ducks  are  stupid  and  careless  birds.  Even  in  nurtur- 
ing their  young,  they  do  not  usually  display  that  atten- 
tion and  vigilance,  BO  common  to  the  feathered  race. 


The  female  seems  to  be  a  heedless,  inattentive  mother, 
and  often  fotgets  her  young  when  the\  most  need  hei 
•  •are.  HavniL.'  led  them  to  the  pond,  -  *  to  think 

that  she   has   provided  for  all   t1  >,  by  showing 

them    the    Water.       She  dues  ii, M.    like   the    hen    call  hei 

family  around    her,  and  teach   them  how  to  provide  for 
•  •Ives.     If  the  vermin  about  the  pond  deMi.  \  1,.  : 
.  -he'    d'M-s  not  miss  them,  and  if  flu-   hears  them 
cry, she  takes   little  notice  of  their  distress.     While  sit- 
ting, she  sometimes  loiters  away  her  time  at  the  pond, 
.lucking  ami  refreshing  herself  in  the  water,  until  her 
eggs  grow  cold  and  lifeless. 

The  hen  is  a  nurse  of  much  belter  character.  She 
sits  on  her  eggs  with  the  most  determined  perseverance  ; 
never  leaves  them,  but  for  a  few  moments  at  a  time,  and 
hurries  back  as  though  her  presence  was  of  the  utmost 
consequence.  If  her  mistress  piefers  to  have  her  hatch 
a  brood  of  ducks  instead  of  her  own  offspring,  she  adopts 
the  little  stiangers,  and  brings  them  up  with  the  same 
care  as  if  they  had  been  her  own  chickens. 


THE  EIDER  DUCK. 

How  }jTfc  it  the  Eider  Duck  ? 

The  Eider  Duck  is  two  feet  three  inches  long,  and 
with  the  wings  spread,  three  feet  in  extent ;  being  about 
the  size  of  a  common  goose. 

What  is  the  color  of  the  Eider  Duck. 

The  color  of  the  male,  from  the  throat  to  the  breast, 
and  along  the  back,  is  white.  The  quill  feathers,  the 
tail,  and  all  the  tinder  parts  are  black  ;  there  is  also  a 
patch  of  black  on  each  .-:de  of  the  head,  including  the 
eyes,  and  a  part  of  the  bill. 

The  color  of  the  female  is  reddish  brown,  curiously 
marked  with  spots  of  black  and  red  ;  the  quill  feathers 
and  tail  are  black ;  and  the  bill  and  legs  yellow. 


80 


THE    PETREL. 


Where  does  (his  duck  live  ? 

This  Duck  inhabits  the  Western  Isles  of  Scotland,  the 
sea  coasts  of  Norway,  Greenland  and  Iceland,  and  the 
northern  parts  of  North  America. 

The  Eider  Duck  has  long  been  celebrated,  on  account 
of  the  down  which  it  affords,  and  which, in  Europe  and 
America,  is  considered  a  great  luxury,  en  account  of  its 
lightness  and  warmth. 

This  is  called  Eider  Down,  and  comes  from  Lapland 
and  Iceland,  in  which  countries  these  birds  are  found  in 
great  numbers. 

The  inhabitants  of  these  countries,  who  live  near  the 
sea  shore,  make  it  a  part  of  their  business  to  plunder 
these  poor  birds  of  their  eggs,  and  their  down.  The 
eggs,  during  the  spring,  they  use  as  food  in  their  fami- 
lies, and  by  the  sale  of  the  down,  they  every  year  obtain 
considerable  sums  of  money. 

The  nests  of  these  Ducks  arc  formed  of  dry  grass  and 
sea  weed,  lined  on  the  inside  with  down, which  the  female 
plucks  from  her  breast  for  this  purpose.  In  the  nest,  thus 
made  soft  and  warm,  she  lays  five  eggs,  which  she  also 
covers  with  down.  The  inhabitants,  having  found  these 
nests  while  building,  they  know  when  to  visit  them 
again,  and  after  the  eggs  are  all  laid,  they  go  and  take 
them  away,  together  with  the  down  which  covers  them, 
as  well  as  that  with  which  the  nest  is  lined.  The  female 
then  begins  again,  and  a  second  time  strips  her  breast, 
lines  her  nest  with  the  down,  and  lays  another  nest  of 
eggs;  but  again  she  is  deprived  of  both,  by  the  same 
hand  that  plundered  her  before.  Once  more  the  poor 
bird,  in  her  anxiety  to  raise  a  family,  begins  to  prepare 
a  place  to  hatch  them,  but  her  breast  being  naked,  can 
afford  no  down  with  which  to  furnish  it.  In  this  extrem- 
ity, it  is  said,  the  male  kindly  interposes  for  her  relief, 
and  plucks  his  own  breast,  to  give  her  the  proper  quan- 
tity of  down.  Even  this,  these  cruel  robbers  sometimes 
take  away ;  when  the  birds,  finding  that  no  mercy  is 
shown  them,  leave  the  place  entirely,  and  seek  a  more 
secret  situation  where  they  can  raise  their  brood  in 
safety. 

One  Duck,  it  is  said,  will  furnish  half  a  pound  of 
down  in  a  season,  and  this  is  so  valuable  as  to  sell  for 
two  dollars  a  pound,  in  Lapland.  It  is  extremely  fine, 
soft  and  warm,  and  is  so  elastic,  that  a  quantity  which  is 
sufficient  to  fill  a  bed  quilt,  may  be  compressed  within 
the  two  hands. 

The  Iceland  Company,  every  year,  bring  from  that 
country  from  fifteen  hundred  to  two  thousand  pounds  of 
this  down.  This  they  sell  at  Copenhagen,  and  from 
thence  it  is  distributed  into  every  part  of  Europe,  and 
considerable  quantities  of  it  come  to  the  northern  parts 
of  America. 

The  male  Eider  Duck  is  exceedingly  attentive  to  the 


female,  while  she  is  sitting  on  her  eggs,  and  during  that 
time  remains  near  the  shore,  swimming  backwards  and 
forwards  not  far  from  the  nest,  to  see  that  nothing  dis- 
turbs her.  But  as  soon  as  the  young  are  hatched,  he 
sails  away,  and  leaves  the  brood  to  take  care  of  them- 
selves. 

The  mother,  however,  has  more  feeling  for  her  young 
and  being  thus  entrusted  with  their  care  and  education, 
she  proves  herself  a  provident  and  faithful  parent.  While 
they  are  very  young,  she  takes  care  to  introduce  them 
to  the  water,  as  the  place  on  which  their  after  lives  are 
chiefly  to  be  spent.  Having  led  them  to  the  edge  of 
the  water,  she  makes  the  whole  brood  crawl  upon  her 
back,  and  then  swims  off  alittle  distance  from  the  shore. 
She  then  dives,  herself,  thus  leaving  her  brood  on  the 
surface  of  the  water,  and  in  this  manner  are  they  com- 
pelled to  exercise  themselves  in  swimming.  After  this, 
they  are  seldom  seen  on  the  land,  until  they  go  there 
for  the  purpose  of  rearing  a  brood  for  themselves. 


THE  PETREL. 

The  bills  of  this  tribe  are  straight,  except  at  the  end, 
where  they  are  a  little  hooked.  The  legs  are  small,  and 
the  wings  long  and  strong.  They  fly  with  amazing 
swiftness,  and  are  often  seen  far  out  at  sea.  In  calm 
weather  they  sit  on  the  water,  but  before,  and  during  a 
storm,  they  are  constantly  on  the  wing.  The  females 
lay  their  eggs  in  holes  in  the  ground,  or  in  the  fissures  of 
rocks.  They  defend  their  young  by  spitting  oil  from 
their  mouths  in  the  faces  of  their  enemies.  There  are 
many  species  of  this  bird,  differing  considerably  in  size 
and  color. 


STORMY  PETREL. 

[  These  birds  art  also  called  Mollier  Carey's  Chickens.] 
How  large  is  the  Stormy  Petrel > 

The  Stormy  Petrel  is  about  the  size  of  the  swallow, 
being  seven  inches  in  length,  and,  with  the  wings  spread, 
nearly  fourteen  inches  in  extent. 

What  is  the  color  of  this  bird  ? 

Its  color,  except  a  spot  of  white  near  the  tail,  is  black ; 
the  feet  are  yellow. 

Where  is  this  bird  found  ? 

The  Stormy  Petrel  is  occasionally  seen  on  the  ocean, 


T  U  I'    STO  U  M  Y     PE   I    K  I'.  !.. 


81 


in  nearly  every  part  of  the  world.  '<<  >•*  met 

with  more  tli. HI  a  thousand    mile*  fiom  tin-  land. 

There  are   iwdity-lonr  .-[>  the    I'etielii 

which  tin'  present  one  i-  the  smallest,   bein  I,  so 

far  a*  i*  Ullowil.  lilt1  Irasl  of  all    web-fooled   buds. 

Tins    Inrd,  Tinioii'.  .  :ed  a 

in\*leriou*  and   ominous  l>:id.  and    e\en    at    tlic   piv 
day,  m:iri\    p. IM.IIS  belie\e  dial  it*  appeaiance  al  sea,  i* 
(I.  :    of  approach  i  lea*t  dial  it  is  u 

nil--  in  in  warn  ilirm  t  in. 

,'  ii||.-n    seen    at   .1  gieat    distance    limn    the  land, 
pie  w  ho  do  i  :   r  llial  il  can  11  v  ei"hl   or  nine 

Innidn-d  miles  in  a  day,  • 

il  can  rt  .    and   hence  die   sailors  think  thai 

they  liaich  their  eggB  under  their  wing*  u  ihe\  .-it  on 

tin-  water. 

hardly  i  (n  say  dial  this  poor  litlle  bird 

•1  die  occasion  of  an\  evil  to  the  sailor  ;   nor  do. 
hali  h    it*  e :;••_•••;  under    it*  u  they  bclie\e.      Il  has 

how  'ie  hahils  peculiar  10  Kself,  and  parliculai  ly 

iii  re*pe.  t  to  iis  flying  about  over  the  ocean  ••(  -ndi  \a*t 
distances  from  the  land.  Il,  i>  aKn  line  thai  ihj.-  hird  i- 
ino>i  lVe(inendy  ->een  liefoie  a  sioi  in.  and  during  its  COD- 
liiiiianre.  Al  sin  h  limes,  flocks  of  them  hover  mound 
the  ship,  ami  are  mine  ai  live  than  common  in  picking  up 
any  thing  thai  happens  to  fall  overboard,  such  as  die 
ri'fuM- ot  proviaiona,  or  any  oilj  mailer  which  die  cook 
throws  away.  Hut  parln-ular  acl:\ily,  and  even  marks 
of  dislress,  hi- fore  a  siorm,  are  r-'hown  hy  many  hird>. 
Tlie  instinct  of  the  crane,  as  bat  already  been  retattrked, 

teaches  her    lo  prepare    for  a   ci.mmir   ^ti>im,    Bl   Well  a^ 
when  lo  bfirin  hei  annual  (light.      Snow  LinU  are  active 
in    searching   for    food    befoie  a  simm.      \\ 
curlews,  and  other   hird*,  are   particularly   noisy   at    die 
*ame  time,  and  every  honsewile,    when   *he   ha*  a    l' 
of  geese,  can  foretell,  by   iheii  actions,  die  approach  of 
fullinir  weadier. 

The  Stormy  Pen  el,  dierefoie,  when  il  foretells,  by  its 
actions,  ibnt  a  storm   is  approaching,  does  nothing  but 


what  i>  comm.iu  in  many  odier  lnid~.  ami  on  lhi.s  arrniint 
il    to  he    lo.)keil  upon    l-y    die    siiilm*,   a-    Mimed. 

which  conlribiiles  In  ;  .     by    \\aniini;  him   of   his 

danger,   iaili.-i  than  a  hird  of  omen,  which    ha.-  cume  lo 

ilo  him  miM-hief. 

Sionny  IVtiels  halcli  their  you  ,i  mimherion 

lh<'  i-laiids  nf  liermuda,  and    Cuba,  and  on  die  coasts  of 

Florida.     They  build  llieir    ne.-is  among  the  guves  and 
of  ihi'  rucks,  and  feed   llieir  vouiiif  only    iln 

the  uinht.      In  the  day  (ime.lhey  wander  over  die  oc. 

and  Mich  i.-i  the  rapidity  of  iheii  tlighl,  that  they  can   he 
i'al  hundred    miles  al  KIM   in  (he  middle  of  die  day 

and  home  airain  al  evei 

Mr.  \ViI  .  ••  li  is  an  interesting  sight  loobMrva 

llirM-  lilt),-  birds  ill  a  irale  cour-ini:  QVee  die  waves,  down 
die  declivities,  up  tip-  oi  die  foaming  surf  (hat 

threatens  to  hurst  over  llieir  heads;  sweeping  olong  the 
hollow  troughs  of  thi  ,n  a  sliellered  valley,  and 

air-iin  inoiinliiiif  with   die   rising  billow,  nnd   j'isi  ahov<: 

-urface,  occasionally  dropping  its  feet,  which,  slrik 
the  water,  throw*  il  up  aurain  willi  additional  foici-; 
soiiieiiui'-s  1.  :i]niiLr,  with  bold  legs  parallel,  on  die  sur- 
face- of  llie  roughest  waves,  for  M  \.  ial  yards  at  a  lime." 
Hut  the  in. .si  singular  peculiarity  of  (his  bird,  is  its 
faculty  of  standing,  or  even  running  on  the  surface  of 
the  water  willi  upparenl  faciliiy.  When  any  greasy 
mall. -i  is  thrown  overboard,  these  hird*  instantly  collect 
around  it,  and  facing  lo  Windward,  willi  then  long  wings 
expanded,  and  llieir  webbed  feet  patting  the  water,  the 
liglilnesa  of  their  bodies,  and  the  action  oi  the  wind  on 
their  wings  enable  diem  lo  do  ihi*  (dial  is,  to  stand  on  die 
surface  of  ih.'  .  In  Calm  Weather,  they 

perform  the  same   maiHeuvre,  by  keepm^   their  \\  i 

jusl*o  much  in  action  as  lo  prevent  (heir  feel  from  *ink- 
ini:  below  ih  \.-c.i riling  lo  Hiillbn,  it  is  from 

dus  *inuridar  lial.il  thai  these  birds  are  named  Prh'-l.  lh«' 
name  beinu  derived  from  P. -lit.  ihu  ape. .-de,  \\ho.ihr 
Scripllire  infoini-  us.  walked  upon  the  v. 


1-2 


5 1987 

-MONTH-MONOGRAPH 


'138*5 


